Mammal
Brown Bear
Ursus arctosAlso known as Grizzly Bear, Kodiak Bear, Eurasian Brown Bear
Brown bears dominate northern wildernesses across North America and Eurasia, using their signature muscular shoulder hump to dig for roots, small mammals, and den sites. These solitary giants display remarkable behavioral adaptability, foraging on berries and vegetation for months before congregating at coastal rivers to harvest spawning salmon. Mothers raise cubs for up to three years, teaching complex survival skills while aggressively defending them against rival bears.
Apex PredatorHibernatingOmnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPacific Salmon, Elk, Wild Berries
Predators
- Siberian Tiger
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, poaching
HabitatsBoreal forests, alpine tundra, coastal estuaries, subalpine meadows
Life span20–30 years in the wild
Classification
- OrderCarnivora
- FamilyUrsidae
- GenusUrsus
- SpeciesUrsus arctos
Native
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Dangerous when surprised, cornered, or protecting cubs; give extreme space and carry bear spray.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses massive muscular strength and long claws capable of causing fatal traumatic injury during defensive charges.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by a pronounced muscular shoulder hump, dish-shaped facial profile, and long front claws.
- What to do
- Never run from a bear; make yourself look large, speak in a calm voice, and slowly back away.
Responsible observation
- Maintain Distance: Stay at least 100 meters away and use binoculars or a telephoto lens.
- Make Noise: Talk loudly or travel in groups to avoid surprising a bear in dense cover.
- Carry Bear Spray: Keep EPA-approved deterrent accessible on your hip or chest.
Competitor Diginatur / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Key Prey (c) Cole Wolf, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cole Wolf · cc-by
Close Relative Alan Wilson / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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Alpine Heights
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