Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) stalk the grasslands, forests, and scrublands of Southeast Asia. These bears have long, shaggy coats of fur and white chest marks; they feed on termites, which they find using their acute sense of smell. Bears (Ursus species) are large, four-legged mammals that have a unique status in pop culture. They are not quite as cuddly as dogs or cats; not quite as dangerous as wolves or mountain lions; but they are decidedly ever-compelling objects of fear, admiration, and even envy. Found in a variety of environments from Arctic ice pack to tropical forests, bears live on every continent except Antarctica. In fact, the panda is the most distantly-related, and oldest, of all bear species.
Bear Facts: Do Bears Hibernate?
Size varies greatly depending on geographic location and general food availability. The largest bears, the “Big Browns” exist along the coast of Alaska and Russia growing to very large sizes rivaling that of the Polar Bear. The interior bears of the North American Rocky Mountains (Grizzly Bear) and the mountains of Europe tend to be much smaller. The really big bears (1500pounds/700kg and bigger) are now very rare.Credit -text- Mike McIntosh, photographs of brown bears – Charlie Russell- . Bears such as brown bears and American black bears have extremely varied diets. These species are highly adaptable, able to modify their diets depending on the seasonal availability of food.
In contrast, hibernating ground squirrels may have core body temperatures as low as -2° C. Still, there is much debate about this within the scientific community; some feel that black bears are true hibernators that employ a more advanced form of hibernation. During this dormancy period, which can be as long a six months, bears depend on stored body fat to provide the energy they need to stay alive. Bears often dig a den into the ground for a warm and protected sleeping place, or they use natural caves or hollow trees. These bears are restricted to a circumpolar region in the Arctic, reaching south into northern Canada and Alaska.
This includes small mammals, birds, fish, molluscs and carcasses. They also feed on grasses, fruits, berries, seeds, insects and honey. All bears are considered omnivores—and yes, they all love the taste of honey—but each species has a preferred diet.
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- The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is almost completely vegetarian.
- It eats insects and larger animals as well and has been know to prey on domestic animals, killing animals as large as adult water buffalo.
- Polar bears rely on sea ice for hunting their primary prey, which includes seals and fish.
- It eats mainly insects and earthworms, along with some fruit and small animals.
The following 12 species of bears can be found all over the world. Considering that early humans used to worship bears as gods, our relationship with ursines hasn’t exactly been stellar over the last few hundred years. Bears are especially susceptible to habitat destruction, are often hunted for sport, and tend to become the scapegoats whenever campers are attacked in the wild or garbage cans are overturned in suburbs. Spectacled bears (Tremarctos ornatos) are the only bears native to South America, inhabiting cloud forests at elevations over 3,000 feet.
Their claws and limbs are adapted for climbing, and they are found in forest environments. Other species (e.g. the brown bear) prefer more open environments. They range in size from the mighty polar bear (on average the largest species of bear) to the sun bear (the smallest species of bear). From late June through September, adult male bears in this area typically weigh anywhere from 700 to 900 pounds, but some can reach up to 1,200 pounds.
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- They are a species of large bear native to parts of northern Eurasia and North America, with the brown bear being found in mountainous areas as well as near coastlines.
- However, unlike true hibernators, the bear’s body temperature does not fall significantly.
- The American black bear is the most common bear species in North America, ranging from Alaska down to Mexico.
- Polar bears live throughout the Arctic and range far out to sea on the sea ice.
- These include thumb-like bones in its paws and powerful jaw muscles.
- Many traditional cultures in the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America place a high importance on bears.
Their senses of sight and hearing, however, are poorly developed, and most hunting is done by smell. Some, such as black bears and spectacled bears, are strong climbers, and all are strong swimmers, most notably the polar bear. Bears do not generally communicate by sound and usually are quiet, but they do growl at times when feeding, when being challenged by another bear or by humans, and when competing for mates. Bears have been hunted since prehistoric times for their meat and fur; they have also been used for bear-baiting and other forms of entertainment, such as being made to dance. With their powerful physical presence, they play a prominent role in the arts, mythology, and other cultural aspects of various human societies. In modern times, bears have come under pressure through encroachment on their habitats and illegal trade in bear parts, including the Asian bile bear market.
Polar Bear
The sun bear is the most arboreal bear and builds sleeping nests as high as 18 meters (60 feet) in the trees. It eats mainly insects and earthworms, along with some fruit and small animals. Habitat destruction and hunting seem to be lowering its numbers (Nowak 1983; Voelker 1986; Ward 1995; IUCN 2007). Bears walk on all four feet but can stand up on their hind feet.
Most bears live in forests or semi-wooded areas, with the exception of the polar bear. They often climb trees (except for the brown bear and the polar bear) to find food and to escape from danger. Bears require a good supply of food and water so they are not found in desert areas. They are found in tropical rainforests, in temperate forests, in high mountains, in grasslands, in the tundra, and on the Arctic ice (polar bears). Bears are among the largest land carnivores (members of the order Carnivora), along with the lion and the tiger.
Bear breeding occurs during the summers—it is the only time when adult bears get together at all—but implantation doesn’t typically occur until late autumn. Cubs are born singly or up to three at a time, generally in January or February, while the mother is still in hibernation. After mating, females are left to raise the young by themselves for a period of about three years, at which point—eager to breed with other males—the mothers chase the cubs away to fend for themselves. Given the proliferation of so-called bear dogs millions of years ago—including the standard-bearer of the family, Amphicyon—you might assume that modern bears are most closely related to dogs. In fact, molecular analysis shows that the closest living relatives of bears are pinnipeds, the family of marine mammals that includes seals and walruses. Both of these mammalian families descend from a last common ancestor, or “concestor,” that lived sometime during the Eocene epoch, about 40 million or 50 million years ago.
Spectacled Bear
Many bears relish honey, and the sun bear is sometimes called the “honey bear” because of this. Prey taken by bears includes rodents, fish, deer, pigs, and seals. Grizzlies (a North American subspecies of the brown bear, Ursus arctos) are known for their skillful fishing during the spawning runs of salmon.
The largest bear is either the Kodiak bear, a subspecies of Alaskan brown bear, or the polar bear, depending upon which measurements are considered. Either of these bears can weigh up to 720 kilograms (1,600 pounds). Despite their solitary nature, these animals have an amazing display of intelligence and emotions, making them highly respected in the animal kingdom. Kodiak bears live mainly on a diet of fish, roots, and berries, supplemented by larger prey such as deer or elk when available. They have long curved claws that allow them to climb trees and build nests in their branches. Sun bears are solitary creatures for the most part, but will sometimes come together during the mating season.
Adult females are slightly smaller by about one-third to one-half of the male’s weight, according to the competition’s website. Endemic to the Middle East, the Syrian brown bear is typically around six feet tall. It has a light to dark brown fur color that usually fades to grayish-white on its muzzle. Its ears are small and rounded, and it has long claws for digging.
They have short, curved claws perfect for climbing trees and tearing apart logs to find food. In the past they were used in cruel sports in which they were forced to fight against dogs and other animals. Polar bears have been known to detect rotting meat 16 kilometers (10 miles) away (Nowak 1983; Voelker 1986). Depending on species, a bear’s basic communication needs can be expressed with about seven or eight different “words”—huffs, chomps, groans, roars, woofs, growls, hums, or barks. The most dangerous sounds for humans are roars and growls, which denote a frightened or agitated bear defending its territory.
They usually give birth to single cubs, which stay with the mother for about two years before becoming independent. Polar bears have thick white fur to help them stay warm and insulated in the cold climates they inhabit. They also have small ears and nostrils that close when they are in the water, as well as long claws to help them move easily on icy surfaces. Polar bears rely on sea ice for hunting their primary prey, which includes seals and fish. The peoples of China, Japan, and Korea use bears’ body parts and secretions (notably their gallbladders and bile) as part of traditional Chinese medicine.
Even the ranges of brown and American black bears have been substantially reduced by human incursion into their territory. In other parts of the world, rapid increases in human populations have led to large scale loss of traditional bear habitat. The Kodiak bear is one of the most iconic bears in the world. bear flag vs bull flag Native to Alaska, these giant mammals are a subspecies of brown bear.
They often do this to get a better view or to appear larger to potential rivals. Like humans, bears walk on the flats of their feet, unlike dogs and cats which walk on their toes. Each foot has five large claws which are used to dig for food, to catch prey, and to fight against predators and other bears. The bears’ heads are massive and their canine teeth are long, while their molars are more flattened than other carnivores. Because of their strength and large size, bears are not often preyed upon by other carnivores (Nowak 1983; Ward 1995). Several species of bear (e.g. the American black bear) lead arboreal (tree-dwelling) lifestyles.
Bears have very few natural predators, and most species sit either near to, or at the very top of their respective food chains. The largest bears are almost 10 ft. (3 m) tall when standing on their hind legs, and are immensely strong. Polar bears are one of the most iconic and beloved animals on Earth. They live in the Arctic Circle, which encompasses parts of Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and Alaska. Bears may be the most antisocial mammals on the face of the earth. While denning, the bear does not eat, drink, urinate or defecate (i.e. pee or poop).
The Greek goddess Artemis and the English hero King Arthur both take their names from the Indo-European word for bear (Ward 1995). Korean mythology identifies the bear as the ancestor and symbolic animal of the Korean people. The constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor represent bears.
