The Ussuri brown bear, like all brown bears, is a force to be reckoned with. Second in size only to the polar bear, these critters are large and in charge. They can be found in the Ussuri krai, the Amur Oblast, Sakhalin, on north to the Shantar Islands, Iturup Island, northeastern China, the Korean peninsula, Hokkaidō, and Kunashiri Islands. Because they are hunted regularly and their habitat continues to shrink, they are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Ursus arctos lasiotus
Weight: Up to 1,210 lbs.
Length: Up to 9.2 feet, plus a 8.7 inch tail
Height: Up to 5 feet
Lifespan: Up to 30 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) They are also known as the Ezo brown bear, the black grizzly bear, and Ku’n Gom (big bear).
2.) During the first half of the 20th century, 141 people died from bear attacks, and another 300 were reported injured, as a result of bear attacks, in Hokkaido.
3.) On Shiretoko Peninsula, primarily in an area called Banya, it has been reported that numerous females with cubs will often approach fishermen and spend time near people. This has happened without incident.
4.) These bears will den in burrows carved into hillsides.
5.) Ussuri bears feed on fish, small mammals, birds, flotsam, fruit, shoots, and rhizomes of various grasses. They will also eat maple twigs, various insects, cambium, and sap.
But wait, there’s more on the Ussuri brown bear!
6.) These bears are preyed on by Siberian tigers.
7.) They may be large, but these bears can reach speeds of up to 35 mph!
Did you know…?
Their claws can grow up to 4 inches in length!
8.) Ussuri brown bears are not known to climb trees.
9.) The Ainu people worship Ussuri brown bears. They will eat its flesh and drink its blood as part of a religious festival known as Iomante.
10.) Females birth up to 4 cubs (but usually only up to 3) during hibernation. The cubs are born altricial (blind and helpless) and spend the winter months nursing and growing.
Now a Short Ussuri Brown Bear Video!
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