Mammals · Carnivora · Ursidae

Brown Bear

Ursus arctos

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

One of the most widespread land carnivores in the Northern Hemisphere, with stable populations in several European and North American countries.

Weight

135 kg – 390 kg

Size

1.5 m – 2.8 m

Lifespan

25 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Estimated population

More than 200,000 animals in total: some 100,000 in Russia, 33,000 in the United States, 25,000 in Canada, 15,400 in Europe and around 2,200 on Hokkaido (Japan)

Temperate forestMountainOmnivore Variable activity Solitary Temperate forest Mountain Mammal

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Fun facts

Romania is home to one of the largest populations in Europe.
It can run at over 50 km/h despite its size.
It hibernates through the winter in cold climates.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Forests, tundra, alpine meadows and coastal areas of the Northern Hemisphere (Eurasia and North America)
Birth weight: 400 - 510 grams (born while the mother is hibernating)
Size at birth: Blind, barely furred and completely dependent at birth
Sexual maturity: Female: 3.5-6 years (most commonly 5-7) | Male: 5.5 years (though it rarely breeds before becoming socially dominant)
Gestation / incubation: 6-8 weeks of active development (delayed implantation stretches the total gestation to several months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 4 young per litter (most commonly 2)
Lifespan in captivity: Up to 40-47 years documented in captivity

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); International Association for Bear Research and Management; Britannica; SDZWA Library Fact Sheet; Giraffa.co; McLellan et al. 2017, IUCN Red List: Preocupación menor desde 1996; la mayoría vive en poblaciones grandes y estables, aunque varias subpoblaciones pequeñas y aisladas corren riesgo de desaparición local y otras están en expansión || McLellan et al. 2017, IUCN Red List e.T41688A121229971; San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library