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    Brown bear

      Saved In:

    The second largest bear, right after the polar bear. Sadly, it well might top the list soon

    Matti Suksi

    Brown bears have thick coats ranging from black to brown and blonde. Their guard hair is longer and sometimes has a white tip that gives them a grizzled appearance. They have strong legs with huge paws and longer claws on the front feet to allow them to dig their dens and food.

    These bears can stand and walk on their hind legs to search for food or identify a threat. They can also smell cubs, predators, mates, or food from far away. During winter, they enter a dormant state in dens, dropping their heartbeats to 10 beats per minute.

    Distribution

    Country
    Population est.
    Status
    Year
    Comments
    Afghanistan
    2016
    Albania
    2016
    Algeria
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1800s
    Andorra
    2016
    Presence Uncertain
    Armenia
    2016
    Austria
    2016
    Presence Uncertain
    Azerbaijan
    2016
    Belarus
    2016
    Belgium
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1,500 years ago
    Bhutan
    2016
    Possibly Extinct
    Bosnia And Herz.
    2016
    Bulgaria
    900-1,200
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    Canada
    25,000
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    China
    2016
    Croatia
    2016
    Czechia
    2016
    Presence Uncertain
    Denmark
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 4,500 years ago
    Egypt
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1500s
    Estonia
    2016
    Finland
    2016
    France
    2016
    Georgia
    2016
    Germany
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1800s
    Greece
    >450
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    Hungary
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 16th century
    India
    2016
    Iran
    2016
    Iraq
    2016
    Ireland
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 2,500 years ago
    Israel
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1930’s
    Italy
    2016
    Japan
    2016
    Jordan
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct locally
    Kazakhstan
    2016
    Kyrgyzstan
    2016
    Latvia
    2016
    Lebanon
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1950’s, unconfirmed 2016
    Liechtenstein
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 500 years ago
    Lithuania
    Official estimate
    EX
    Last killed 1883
    Luxembourg
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct >500 years ago
    Mexico
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1960
    Moldova
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 500 years ago
    Monaco
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct >500 years ago
    Mongolia
    2016
    Montenegro
    2016
    Morocco
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1800s
    Nepal
    2016
    Netherlands
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 1,000 years ago
    North Korea
    2016
    North Macedonia
    2016
    Norway
    2016
    Pakistan
    2016
    Poland
    2016
    Portugal
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 500 years ago
    Romania
    5,000-6,000
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    Russia
    120,000
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    San Marino
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct 500 years ago
    Serbia
    2016
    Slovakia
    600-800
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    Slovenia
    500-700
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    Spain
    20-25
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    Pyrenees
    Sweden
    2016
    Switzerland
    2016
    Presence Uncertain
    Syria
    2016
    Possibly extinct
    Tajikistan
    2016
    Tunisia
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct >500 years ago
    Turkey
    2016
    Turkmenistan
    2016
    Presence Uncertain
    Ukraine
    2016
    United Kingdom
    Official estimate
    EX
    Extinct ~500 AD
    United States
    32,500
    Official estimate
    LC
    2016
    Alaskan population
    Uzbekistan
    2016

    Did you know?

    • Brown bears have a keen sense of smell, which they use to locate food over long distances. They can smell food up to 20 miles away!
    • They are known for their excellent fishing skills, as they are adept at catching fish with their powerful jaws and sharp claws.
    • They hibernate during the winter months, often going without food or water for several months at a time.

    Anything we've missed?

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    Get to know me

    Terrestrial / Aquatic

    Altricial / Precocial

    Polygamous / Monogamous

    Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

    Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

    Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

    Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

    Migratory: Yes / No

    Domesticated: Yes / No

    Dangerous: Yes / No

    Brown bear on banknotes

    Belarus 50 Rubles
    Lithuania 500 Talonas
    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    Least Concern(IUCN)
    World Population 200,000

    1.7% annual growth rate

    Added by BioDB
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    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Ursus arctos Explanation to scientific name:

    Ursus arctos derived from the Latin word ursus which means “bear”, and from ἄρκτος arktos, the Greek word for bear.

     Number of subspecies: 16 Name of subspecies:

    U. a. alascensis
    U. a. arctos
    U. a. beringianus
    U. a. californicus
    U. a. collaris
    U. a. crowtheri
    U. a. dalli
    U. a. gyas
    U. a. horribilis
    U. a. isabellinus
    U. a. lasiotus
    U. a. middendorffi
    U. a. pruinosus
    U. a. sitkensis
    U. a. stikeenensis
    U. a. syriacus

    Physical traits

    Height: 70 – 153 cm (2 ft 4 in – 5 ft 0 in) Length: 1.4 – 2.8 m (4 ft 7 in – 9 ft 2 in) Weight Male: 180 kg (400 pounds) Weight Female: 135 kg (298 pounds) Lifespan: 47 – 50 years When species evolved: Pleistocene Species evolved years ago: 1.2 – 1.4 mya Gestation: 180 – 270 days Offspring: 1 – 3 cubs
    Habitats: Forest Shrubland Savannah/Grassland
    Regions: Africa Asia Europe North America
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