Bears – Types, Facts & News

Although many of us may have not seen a bear in the wild, most have grown up with a little stuffed teddy bear.

Bears are known for their immense strength and adaptability. They inhabit a wide range of environments worldwide. They belong to the family Ursidae and are characterized by their large bodies, shaggy hair, and long snouts. Despite their often fearsome reputation, bears are crucial in their ecosystems as apex predators, scavengers, and seed dispersers. 

The Ursidae family includes eight species spread across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Arctic. Bears are solitary; however, they have interesting social structures and ways of communication, often through scent. 

Bears are essential in their ecosystem, but human impacts threaten them. However, through education, research, and conservation, bears can continue to thrive in the wild for centuries. 

Bear Overview

When you think of the Arctic Circle, which bear do you picture?

Eight Species of Bears 

There are eight species of bears in the Northern Hemisphere and no wild populations in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Here is a list of each bear species and their characteristics, habitat, and diet.

#1 American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

• Characteristics: Despite its name, black bears have a variety of color phases, from black to brown, cinnamon, and even white in some sporadic cases (called the Kermode bear).
• Habitat: Their habitat extends from forests of North America, Canada, and even as south as northern Mexico.
• Diet: Omnivorous nuts, shoots, and occasionally fish and small mammals.

#2 Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) – Also known as Grizzly bears

• Characteristic: The largest bear species. Often distinguished by the prominent hump on their shoulders.
• Habitat: Found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Diet: Also omnivorous, including plant material, fish (mostly salmon), small mammals, and carrion. 

#3 Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

• Characteristics: Polar bears have White fur to camouflage in snow and ice. They are excellent swimmers and the largest land carnivores on earth.
• Habitat: Arctic regions, on sea ice.
• Diet: Carnivorous, feeding primarily on seals

#4 Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus)

• Characteristics: White crescent marking on the chest, long fur, and large ears.
• Habitat: Forests of Asia, from Iran to Japan and Southeast Asia. 
• Diet: Omnivorous: fruit, nuts, insects, small mammals.

#5 Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

• Characteristics: Distinctive white and light brown markings on the face, the only bear native to South America.
• Habitat: Andes Mountains of South America.
• Diet: Herbivorous has been documented to feed on small animals. 

#6 Panda Bear (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

• Characteristics: Black and white fur coat.
• Habitat: Mountain ranges in central China.
• Diet: Giant Panda has a highly specialized diet of bamboo. However, they also consume other plant materials and even meat.

#7 Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)

• Characteristics: Long, shaggy fur. They are adapted to suck up insects. Their distinctive nose and lack of upper front teeth help them better consume their primary food source. 
• Habitat: Forests of the Indian subcontinent.
• Diet: Primarily insects, but also fruits and flowers.

#8 Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)

• Characteristics: Smallest bear species. Short fur and a long tongue adapted to eat honey and insects.
• Habitat: Forests of Southeast Asia. 
• Diet: Omnivorous. Mostly honey, insects, and fruit. Occasionally seen consuming small vertebrates.

Learn More About Bears

Did You Know? Bears Are Surprisingly Fast Runners

Bears are surprisingly fast runners, with the fastest bears (American Black Bear and Brown Bear) reaching up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour). They reach high speeds when threatened or motivated by food. 

The fastest human on earth, Usain Bolt, a professional sprinter, reached a speed of 44.99 kilometers per hour 67 meters into his race. 

The fastest bear would beat the fastest human on earth, thus I believe trying to outrun a bear is a bad idea!

Are Bears A Danger to Humans?

If you have seen the Leonardo DiCaprio movie, The Revenant, like I have, the thought of encountering a bear in the forest stirs up some fear. However, the risk of a bear attack is low compared to the daily risks people face!

The potential for danger exists with any encounter with a wild animal, and bears are no exception. Thus, if you are in an area where bears roam freely, preventive measures are necessary. These include:

• Storying food properly
• Keeping a safe distance
• Carrying bear spray
• Understanding bear behavior

Surviving Harsh Winters and Hibernation

Hibernation is a fascinating survival strategy that allows many creatures to survive cold, dark winters without foraging for food or migrating to warmer places. 

During hibernation, animals experience a drop in body temperature, heart rate, and metabolic rate. Bears, however are still slightly alert and go into a “torpor,” which causes a decrease in metabolic rate. However, only a slight decrease in body temperature enables them to wake up more quickly if disturbed. 

While not all bears hibernate, some hibernate for up to 7 months during harsh winters.

Which Bear Hibernate?

Interestingly, as shown in the table above, polar bears do not hibernate. However, female polar bears enter a denning period when birthing cubs, which is similar to hibernation, but is driven by reproductive needs rather than climate. 

5 facts About Bears That Surprise Me

1. Polar bears can swim for days: The longest documented continuous swim of a polar bear was recorded to be 60 hours, covering a distance of 220 miles (354 kilometers).
2. Hibernating bears don’t drink, eat, urinate or defecate: As mentioned above, bears can hibernate for up to 7 months!
3. Bears have excellent memories: Bears have been recorded to return to exact locations to find food, year after year.
4. Bears use tools: Although it is commonly thought that only primates use tools, bears have been documented using tools as well! Specifically, some bears use rocks to scratch or exfoliate themselves. 
5. Black Bears are sometimes white: As mentioned above, a kermode bear, is a black bear that is white with a rare genetic sequence which create a white coat. 

Bear Videos & Images

Bear News

Bears FAQs

The Latest On Bear Conservation

My Connection To Bears

Unfortunately, I have never seen a bear in person. However, I grew up with a few stuffed teddy bears, so bears were a part of my childhood. One day, I hope to see a wild bear in real life (from a safe distance). 

Some current bear species are vulnerable to extinction. With impending climate change and continued habitat loss, some species might not be around when my children or grandchildren live in the wild. Continued conservation and climate change mitigation efforts are essential for these bear populations’ continued survival.

However, let’s continue appreciating these magnificent creatures while their populations thrive in the wild.

Learn about mammals:

• Primates
• Rodents
• Big Cats