BEARS

Brown bears are the most widely distributed bears in the world. They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Brown bears are far more numerous in the state of Alaska where there are an estimated 30,000 bears-about 95% of the entire population in the United States. Brown Bears live in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, alpine and subalpine meadows, and even the Arctic tundra. Following the food, they relocated depending on the seasons-living at lower elevations in the spring and higher elevations in the wintertime. Male bears are close to 2 times heavier than females. A typical adult make weighs between 300-850 pounds, while the adult female weighs between 200-450 pounds. Kodiak bears, the largest of the species, can weigh over 1,000 pounds as can those brown bears on the Alaska Peninsula. The coloring of brown bears differs according to the environmental conditions, such as diet and temperature, which are specific to the geographical area in which they live. Their fur can be whitish, blond, red, or black, in addition to the typical dark brown. Brown Bears are apex predators, meaning they are at the top of the food chain. Walking on all fours, brown bears have a height of about 3.5 feet. They can reach heights of 6-7 feet when standing on their hind legs. Brown bears hibernate for 5-8 months each year, beginning in the fall months. While hibernating, bears experience a drop in temperature and a decrease in both heart rate and metabolism. Brown bears can lose up to 40% of their body weight during hibernation. Height: 3.5 ft. on all fours and 6-7 ft. when standing Weight: Male 300-850 lbs Female 200-450 lbs Diet Omnivore: Apex predator Habitat: Forests, alpine meadows, Arctic tundra Geography: North America, Europe, Asia Lifespan in wild: 20-25 years Class: Mammal