Brown bear

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is a large species of bear found across Eurasia and North America. It is one of the largest living terrestrial members of the order Carnivora, rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus), which is much less variable in size and slightly larger on average.

Taxonomy

The brown bear's principal range includes parts of Russia, Central Asia, China, Canada, the United States (mostly Alaska), Scandinavia and the Carpathian region (especially Romania), Anatolia, and Caucasus. The brown bear is recognized as a national and state animal in several European countries.

Description

Brown bears are characterized by their most distinctive feature, their brown fur, which can range from a light cream color to almost black. They have a hump of muscle mass on their shoulders, a concave (rather than straight or convex) facial profile, and long claws about two to four inches in length.

Behavior

Brown bears are generally solitary animals that can cover large distances. They are not territorial, and they typically do not defend an area from other bears. Males will try to mate with several females, but the female will only mate with one male.

Diet

Brown bears are omnivorous and feed on a variety of food sources. They have relatively short, broad skulls and a wide mouth equipped for crushing hard foods like nuts and roots. They also eat fish, mammals, insects, and berries.

Conservation

The brown bear is listed as a least concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to its widespread distribution and a large global population estimated to be twice that of all other bear species combined.