Critter Science

Found in North America, Europe, and Asia, the brown bear is a symbol of power and a force to be reckoned with and respected. While grizzly bears tend to get all the attention, the brown bear is larger and more abundantly spread out. There are an estimated 110,000 brown bears left in the wild to date. Even though they are affected by oil and gas industry pollution, climate change, habitat destruction, hunting, and vehicle strike (getting hit by cars) they are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

First the Stats… Scientific name: Ursus arctos Weight: Up to 1,300 lbs. Length: Up to 9.2 feet Height: Up to 5 feet, at the shoulders Lifespan: Up to 25 years

Now on to the Facts! 1.) Brown bears spend up to 16 hours a day searching for food. Hey, one does not obtain a body like that by dieting.

2.) They are omnivores (eat both plant and animal matter), consuming fish , mice , leaves, twigs, berries, and garbage from human habitations.

3.) Only wolves , cougars , and humans prey on brown bears. And only the cubs are preyed on by animals.

4.) These giants are nocturnal (active at night) with crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) habits.

5.) Brown bears are solitary. They only come together to mate and when food is plentiful.

But wait, there’s more on the brown bear! 6.) Their incredible sense of smell allows them to detect even the faintest scent of food from miles away. Their sense of smell is up to 2,100 times greater than a human’s and 7 times greater than a bloodhound’s.

7.) Their claws can reach up to 4 inches long! They are longer and straighter than those of the American black bear .

Did you know…? Outrunning a brown bear is ill-advised as these beasts can reach speeds of up to 31 mph! And they can climb trees. So good luck there too.

8.) Males can patrol an area of up to 600 square miles!

9.) Brown bears have one of the largest brains of any land carnivore , relative to their body size and have been documented using tools; such as a barnacle-covered rock to scratch their neck. This shows advanced cognitive abilities.

10.) When battling one another for breeding rights or territory, these bears will use their paws to strike their opponents in the shoulders and chest and will bite the neck and head.

But wait, there’s still more on the brown bear! 11.) The brown bear remains the largest land carnivore in Europe.

12.) Females birth 1 – 3 and sometimes up to 6 cubs every 2 – 4 years. Breeding takes place from May – July.

Did you know…? During hibernation , brown bears can lose up to 30% of their body weight!

13.) Brown bears hibernate during the winter. During this time they will not eat or drink and typically don’t even defecate (poop/pee).

14.) The mother bear will typically give birth during hibernation and will spend the winter months nursing her cubs.

15.) Nearly 50% of all brown bear cubs die before they reach a year old.

Now a Short Brown Bear Video!

Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel . Videos added frequently!

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Learn more about all kinds of cool critters, right here ! toolTips('.classtoolTips3','

These animals are active during dawn and dusk, or twilight. Animals that are crepuscular are typically so due to the fact that many predators are not active during those times of the day. But as in the case of being diurnal or nocturnal, sometimes the organism is crepuscular in an effort to obtain food that might be present at these times. Mule deer , desert cottontails , coyotes , porcupines , and black-tailed jackrabbits , to name a few, fit into this category.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips5','

This is a state of metabolic depression and inactivity in endothermic (warm blooded) creatures. It is displayed as a reduced heartbeat (by up to 95%), low metabolic rate, slow breathing, and low body temperature. Critters that hibernate typically prepare for it by building up an abundance of body fat during late summer and autumn that helps provide them with energy throughout the winter months. There are 2 types of hibernation: facultative & obligate hibernation. Facultatives hibernate when it’s too cold and food supply has been reduced. Obligates are able to sleep despite access to food and comfortable temperatures. A facultative hibernator would be the black-tailed prairie dog . A few obligate hibernators are: ground squirrels , mouse lemurs , and butterflies .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips5','

This is a state of metabolic depression and inactivity in endothermic (warm blooded) creatures. It is displayed as a reduced heartbeat (by up to 95%), low metabolic rate, slow breathing, and low body temperature. Critters that hibernate typically prepare for it by building up an abundance of body fat during late summer and autumn that helps provide them with energy throughout the winter months. There are 2 types of hibernation: facultative & obligate hibernation. Facultatives hibernate when it’s too cold and food supply has been reduced. Obligates are able to sleep despite access to food and comfortable temperatures. A facultative hibernator would be the black-tailed prairie dog . A few obligate hibernators are: ground squirrels , mouse lemurs , and butterflies .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips18','

Organisms that are nocturnal are active at night. Animals that fit into this category are typically prey animals that rely on the cover of darkness as a defense. Granted, there are no shortage of predators at night. Some organisms adopt a nocturnal lifestyle due to climate issues. Many desert dwelling animals are nocturnal as it is simply cooler outside at night. Aardvarks , badgers , bandicoots , and aye-ayes are just some examples of nocturnal creatures.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips23','

A creature that feeds primarily or exclusively on animal matter is called a carnivore. Some animals that fall into this category are: crocodiles , birds of prey , and sharks , to name a few.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips29','

Coming from the Latin term omnis (meaning all or everything) and vorare (meaning to eat or devour), omnivores are animals that consume plant and animal matter. Some animals that fit into this category are pigs , dogs , coatis , bears , hedgehogs , chimpanzees , and more.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips29','

Coming from the Latin term omnis (meaning all or everything) and vorare (meaning to eat or devour), omnivores are animals that consume plant and animal matter. Some animals that fit into this category are pigs , dogs , coatis , bears , hedgehogs , chimpanzees , and more.');

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