Bears in real life!

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Bears are fascinating. They are ancient creatures whose origins can be traced back millions of years. They live throughout the world on several different continents.
Bears have adapted to a wide range of habitats and there are many species. Their features can vary widely and they have different characteristics and behaviors. Introducing the bears ...

POLAR BEARS
Polar Bears live in the coldest region of our planet. They are one of the world's largest bears. Polar bears have thick fur to keep them warm and are colored white to blend in with the snow. The Arctic lacks vegetation but has plenty of seals! Therefore the polar bear is entirely carnivorous.

GIANT PANDA BEAR
The Giant Panda Bear lives in remote areas of central China. Their distinct black and white patterns with teardrop eyes have made giant pandas and their cubs extremely popular. Panda bears eat only one thing: bamboo. Since bamboo is available all year long pandas do not hibernate.

KOALA
The Koala is small, fuzzy, and slow moving. They are found only in the tree branches of Australia. Koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves, and they are picky about which varieties they eat. The koala is an excellent climber and spends almost its entirely life cycle in the trees.

GRIZZLY BEAR
Powerful and huge, the Grizzly Bear is the king of its domain. It has a strong bulky body with massive shoulder muscles. Grizzly bears can tower over 7 feet when standing on their hind legs. The grizzly is omnivorous and will eat whatever is abundant where it lives.

BLACK BEAR
The Black Bear is intelligent and shy. They are found in different environments in Canada and the United States. Black bears prefer dense forests that offer shelter and a variety of food. They are not picky about what they eat. They can climb and swim well.

RED PANDA
A distant cousin of the giant panda is the Red Panda. Although it shares similar characteristics, the red panda bear is much smaller, has an orange brown color, and looks like a cross between a raccoon, cat, and fox! The red panda has a long bushy tail that it uses for insulation when resting.

BROWN BEAR
The Brown Bear is found around the world in North America, Europe, and Asia. In North America they are mostly in the state of Alaska. Brown bears can live up to 25 years. They will migrate over much terrain to forage for food. Some brown bears hibernate while others do not.

MORE BEARS
The Kodiak Bear is specific to the Kodiak Archipelago in Alaska and is one of the largest subspecies.
The Kermode Spirit Bear of Canada is also known as the Ghost Bear. It is rich in legend and revered by Native Americans.
The Sun Bear, Moon Bear, and Sloth Bear all have prominent gold chest patterns and live in Southeast and Northern Asia.
The Spectacled Bear, also known as the Andian bear, lives in the high cloud forests of the Andes mountain range in South America.

BEAR CUBS
Depending on where they live, some bears hibernate. The mother uses her paws equipped with sharp claws to prepare a den. In the safety of the mother’s den, bear cubs are born and nursed. Even the largest bears have newborns that are tinycompared to the mother. The mother uses her paws to nurture her baby bear cubs. She will protect them against predators including the remote possibility of a male bear attack.
They are usually born in late winter to spring months. Depending on the species, a bear cub may have one or two siblings. Baby bears are well nurtured by their dedicated mother.
In the spring mother and offspring emerge to find food. They eat whatever they can find. Although the babies are small and cute, they must learn survival skills quickly. Most will be on their own in one to two years. Information on juveniles are being studied to help populations thrive.

WHAT IS THE LARGEST BEAR EVER RECORDED?
The world’s largest bears are the polar, grizzly, kodiak, and brown bears. Although they are the biggest they rarely attack humans. Their weight depends on what they eat. Individual habitats also determine how large they grow. They tend to weigh more before they hibernate since they accumulate stored fat. Despite their potential to be giants, baby bear cubs are tiny at birth.
The largest bear ever recorded is a world record polar bear that lived in Alaska. It is estimated to have weighed over 2200 pounds. The head, teeth, and claws were equally impressive and larger than anything previously documented.

WHY DO BEARS HIBERNATE?
Bears hibernate to conserve energy. Body functions slow down and permit it to survive longer. Bears eat less during the winter because there is less food available. Hibernation usually takes place in the fall when they retreat to any shelter they can find. They may also dig dens with their powerful paws.
Not all hibernate if food supplies are available year round. Examples include the giant panda bear, koala, and red panda bear. Size or strength are not factors. Some of the world’s largest bears enter full or partial hibernation.
When they hibernate in a partial state, their energy is conserved but they can still perform basic functions. For example they can still move about and eat during the winter. A mother bear can still nurse her baby bear cubs. If danger lurks they can awaken to defend against attacks.

Food
Bears are classified as carnivores. But their diet depends on their habitat. The polar bear’s environment is devoid of plants so its diet is carnivorous. But giant panda bears eat bamboo exclusively. Red panda bears in China eat bamboo, but will supplement their diet with rodents. The koala feeds exclusively on eucalyptus leaves.
Some of the world’s largest bears such as the grizzly and brown bear have a diet similar to the smaller black bear. They are omnivorous and will eat almost anything including berries, nuts, roots, insects, and fish. Some species attack mammals if available. Favored foods are high in calories and protein.
Bear paws have adapted to foods in their habitat. Claws are longer for species that need to attack, climb, and dig for food. The panda bear has five claws plus an extra “thumb” extension to help it eat bamboo.
Bear cubs initially nurse from their mother’s milk. Eventually baby bears dine on whatever the mother finds during her daily excursions. In some environments it is difficult to find food during the winter. As mentioned bears hibernate or enter partial hibernation to solve this problem.

BEAR ATTACKS
Bear attacks on humans are rare. They can attack when protecting their cubs. People should stay clear of a mother and her bear cubs. A bear attack can occur if they are surprised. Hikers should make plenty of noise, especially in dense vegetation. If fresh bear tracks or claw markings are discovered, it is best to take a detour.
Bears will avoid confrontation if given the chance. It is not uncommon to see even the largest bears running away from people, hunters, or vehicles. Old bears in particular are very cautious.
Animals such as wolves are subject to bear attacks. They sometimes eat prey they steal from other predators. A bear paw has sharp claws that can cause seriously injury to other animals.

CONSERVATION
Many bear populations are threatened with extinction due to threats to their habitat, illegal poaching, and global warming. Their original wildlife territories continue to decline and many species are endangered. Commercial, residential, and agricultural encroachment have put tremendous pressure on their populations. Worldwide their habitat require ongoing conservation and preservation to prevent their further demise.

BEAR PAWS
Much can learned about a species by examining its bear paw prints. Bear feet have five toes. Bear tracks typically show the foot print of the “heel” and sole, toes, and five bear claws that extend past the toes. The length of the bear track's claws can distinguish between species. The curvature and spacing between the toes are also good indicators.
Many bears tend to walk the same trails year after year. The typical paw print resembles a flat footed creature. Determining the bear species and size depend on the print pattern, ground medium (dirt, mud, sand, snow), and age of the track.