SEE Bears

Bears are found in all but two continents, Australia and Antartica. They are one of the largest terrestrial mammals, and they hold a special place in human imagination. People from cultures around the world have both revered and feared these impressive creatures.

Did You Know?

• There are 8 bear species.
• Seals, sea lions and the walrus, are their closest relatives.
• Similar to big cats, bears are mostly solitary, and give birth to their young in protected places such as caves and dens.
• There are twice as many black bears as all other species combined.
• Only one species is found in the Southern Hemisphere, the spectacled bear, also known as 'The Machu Pichu Bear'.
• Six of eight species of bear are omnivorous; the polar bear is mostly carnivorous and the panda is herbivorous.
• Contrary to popular belief, they don't truly hibernate. Their body temperatures drop only slightly, and they do not wake to feed or relieve themselves like true hibernators.

Famous Quotes about Bears

“The best way of being kind to bears is not to be very close to them.” ― Margaret Atwood

“Mother Nature is our teacher—reconnecting us with Spirit, waking us up and liberating our hearts. When we can transcend our fear of the creatures of the forest, then we become one with all that is; we enter a unity of existence with our relatives—the animals, the plants and the land that sustains us.” ― Sylvia Dolson

“When you are where wild bears live you learn to pay attention to the rhythm of the land and yourself. Bears not only make the habitat rich, they enrich us just by being.” ― Linda Jo Hunter

Learn more about: Bear Facts Bear Threats Polar Bear Facts Grizzly Bear Facts Spectacled Bear Facts American Black Bear Facts Panda Bear Facts Sun Bear Facts