Bears!

Grizzly bears are opportunistic omnivores. They will search for and eat berries, plant roots, leaves, and fish and will hunt small animals, rodents, and even large animals such as the moose. Grizzly bears are solitary hunters that can pose threats to humans. They can be particularly dangerous if scared, surprised, or perceive a threat to their young. During the end of summer through fall, grizzlies eat an extra amount of food to build up fat in their bodies. They build up this fat for their bodies to use and to keep warm during hibernation.

Polar bears  live north of the Arctic Circle along the shorelines of northern Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Greenland. Polar bears are different from other bears in that they rely solely on meat as their main source of food. They hunt and eat seals and walruses and will also eat whale carcasses, bird eggs, and fish. The polar bear diet is high in both protein and fat to enable it to maintain the thick layers of fat necessary to survive in sub-freezing Arctic temperatures. Male polar bears can weigh from 900 to 1,600 pounds and can grow to eight feet in length! Female polar bears are significantly smaller weighing from 330 to 550 pounds. Unlike other bear species, polar bears do not hibernate. Females do, however, den during pregnancy, which may last up to 265 days.

Polar Bears are hunted for their hides, fat, and flesh by indigenous Inuit people in Canada. Populations of these magnificent animals are thought to be declining, chiefly because of reduced pack ice in the Arctic Ocean due to climate change and global warming. Polar bears rely on this pack ice to migrate across the ocean as well as to hunt.

Black bears are the most common bears in the world, and are one of only two bear species not classified as threatened or endangered. Despite their name, not all black bears are black in color. Their color can range from whitish to black as well as all shades of brown in between. Male black bears weight between 150-550 pounds, though much larger specimens have been found, including one male that weighed over 1,100 pounds in New Brunswick, Canada. Females are smaller and typically weigh around 200 pounds.

Black bears are highly omnivorous in diet. While they will eat deer, elk, and moose, the bulk of their diet consists of roots, insects, larvae, grass, and other plants. Because of their versatile diet, they can be found in a variety of areas in North America from Alaska to Mexico. Black bears that live near humans must often be re-located because they become accustomed to feasting on trash and can cause serious damage to homes and cars.

Like the grizzly bear, black bears hibernate during the cold winter months. While black bears can hibernate for up to 7 1/2 months, the duration of hibernation depends on the temperature. During hibernation, black bears lose up to 20 percent of their body weight. For a 400 pound black bear, that's a loss of 80 pounds!

Giant Pandas are found in the mountainous habitats of central and western China. They are white with large black patches on their arms and legs. They also have long noses and strong jaws that help them with eating their main source of food, bamboo. Because bamboo is not particularly high in nutrition, panda bears spend 12 to 15 hours per day eating large quantities of it! Pandas are also exceptionally good swimmers and will happily swim to find food. Giant pandas are small among bear species, and usually weigh between 160 and 250 pounds.

Populations of giant pandas have plummeted in recent decades, mostly due to deforestation in China. There are thought to be between two and three thousand giant pandas in the wild, and 200-300 in captivity. This charismatic species, however, is an international symbol of conservation. Pandas are big attractions in zoos that can afford them.

The sun bear is found in the tropical evergreen forests of southeast Asia. The sun bear can grow to five feet in length and weigh up to 150 pounds, making it the smallest species of bear in the world. Like many other bears, the rare and elusive sun bear is threatened by deforestation.

The sun bear has a sleek and glossy coat that can be black, dark brown, or gray. These bears feature a distinctive crescent shaped, light colored marking on their chest and have a light-colored snout. Their long, curved claws allow them to climb and dig into trees in search of their favorite food: termites. In addition to termites, sun bears eat grubs and honey, as well as insects, eggs, and small animals. Their exceptionally long tongues, which can extend to ten inches in length, allow them to access insects or bees deep within cracks or crevices in trees. Sun bears are also known to eat large quantities of figs and nuts, which they crack with their powerful jaws. Because of their size, habitat, and living habits, sun bears do not need to hibernate as other species of bears do.

The Asiatic black bear, sometimes called the moon bear,  is a medium sized bear found from Iran, east through much of southern Asia. Populations also exist in China, South Korea, North Korea, and Japan. Male Asiatic black bears can measure up to six feet in length and weigh between 250 and 400 pounds. Females are smaller and may reach weights of about 200 pounds. They are small to medium-sized bears, black in coloration, with a conspicuous white "moon-shaped" marking on the chest. Asiatic black bears forage for fat-rich food such as fruit, acorns, beechnuts, walnuts, and small animals high in the branches of the rainforest. While most Asiatic black bears do not hibernate, pregnant females may hibernate for up to six months. Asiatic bears are also the most bipedal of bears, which means they walk on two feet more than any other bear. These bears are known to be aggressive toward humans.

Like the giant panda and sun bear, Asiatic black bear populations have declined because of deforestation. In addition, these bears are hunted for their body parts, which are often used in traditional Chinese medicines.

The spectacled bear is found in the mountain areas of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Populations may also extend into extreme northwest Argentina. This species can range in size from 280 to 440 pounds and can reach heights of 6 1/2 feet. Because of the warm habitat they live in, they are active year round and do not hibernate. The spectacled bear is the only surviving bear native to South America and is the last remaining species of "short-faced" bears still in existence. It is named for the light colored markings that criss-cross its face and chest. Each individual bear has different markings, making them easy to distinguish.

Spectacled bears are omnivorous (though mostly herbivorous) bears that eat berries, shoots, insects, small animals, reptiles, and sometimes cattle, though only five to seven percent of diet consists of meat. They use their long, sharp front claws to climb trees and search for food. Because they will eat cattle, they are often hunted by farmers attempting to protect their livestock and farms. Between hunting and deforestation, the speculated bear faces decreasing numbers in population.

Back to top

The Sloth bear is a shaggy looking bear with a dusty-black coat, pale colored snout, curved claws, and a distinctive, light colored ‘Y’ on its chest. These bears use their curved claws to climb as well as dig for ants, termites and other insects. Sloth bears have specially adapted lower lips to "suck" insects from crevices and logs. They also eat fruits, berries, grasses, seed pods, flowers, yams, eggs, mango, figs, and honey. Sloth bears are relatively small bears. Females range from 110 to 210 pounds while males range from 150 to 320 pounds. Sloth bears reach a maximum height of about three feet. The name "sloth bear" comes from early biologists who believed it to be related to sloths.

Sloth Bears are found in forested and grassland areas of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. Because these areas are warm year round and food options are plentiful, Sloth Bears do not hibernate. They are thought to be the most nocturnal of all bears and frequently sleep or rest in "daybeds" near rivers.