Brown bear is the most widely distributed bear in the world. Brown bears are found in North America, Europe, northern Asia, and Japan. In the past, brown bears could also be found in Mexico and North Africa. A brown bear’s fur is usually dark brown, but it may vary from black to cream. The fur may change in color and thickness depending on the season. Some brown bears have fur tipped with gray or silver. In North America, these bears are often called silvertips or grizzly bears (see Grizzly bear). Color, body size, and behavior are influenced by the wide variety of habitats in which brown bears live, including forest, grassland, tundra, and desert.
The brown bear is one of the largest bears. Only the polar bear is larger. However, brown bears vary greatly in size. An adult male brown bear may measure 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) long. It can weigh from 200 pounds (90 kilograms) to more than 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms). Female bears are generally smaller. The brown bear is easily identified by a distinctive hump on its shoulders. This hump is made up of powerful muscles. These muscles, along with long, thick claws on the bear’s front paws, give the animal an incredible ability to dig.
A brown bear’s diet depends on what foods are available in their habitat each season. Brown bears mainly eat vegetation, such as berries, bulbs, grasses, and roots. They will also consume fish, insects, mammals, and carrion (dead animals). Brown bears are usually solitary animals but may gather in groups if food is plentiful. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning that they tend to take advantage of whatever food sources are easily accessible. Such food sources may include livestock, orchards, and garbage dumps. Because of this habit, brown bears may come into conflict with people, causing problems for both.
Loading the player...Alaskan brown bear
During summer and fall, brown bears must store up enough fat to survive the winter months. As the weather becomes cold, brown bears shelter in dens, dug into steep slopes. They may also shelter in caves or in the hollows around large tree roots. In their den, brown bears become inactive and do not eat or drink. Instead, they break down and reabsorb their body’s waste products. They only awaken if disturbed (see Hibernation). However, female brown bears awaken to give birth during winter. They may give birth to one to four cubs, each weighing less than 1 pound (0.6 kilogram). Mothers nurse their cubs for about 5 to 6 months. In North America, brown bear cubs usually stay with their mother for 2 to 3 years.
Brown bears often claw and rub trees and make a wide range of sounds to communicate with other brown bears. They live up to 20 years or more in the wild. However, populations are threatened or endangered in regions where they are not protected by law and where their habitat is disturbed by human development.
