Observation of Barren-ground Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos, predation on Muskoxen, Ovibos moschatus, in the Northwest Territories

Abstract

Observations of Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos) killing and feeding on Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) are rare. We observed a bear feeding on a Muskox bull in May 1987 near Coppermine, Northwest Territories. The state of the carcass and tracks in snow allowed us to reconstruct the sequence of the bear killing the Muskox. We also recorded two other possible instances of Grizzly Bear predation on Muskoxen.