Bears

The Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a bear found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. The Sun Bear stands approximately 4 ft (1.2 m) in length, making it the smallest member in the bear family. It is often called the dog bear because of its small stature. It has a 2 in (5 cm) tail and on average weighs less than 145 lb (65 kg). Males tend to be slightly larger than females. Unlike other bears, the Sun Bear's fur is short and sleek. This adaptation is probably due to the lowland climates it inhabits. Dark black or brown-black fur covers its body, except on the ...

The spectacled bear gets its name from the distinctive circular bands which ring its eyes. The markings vary slightly from bear to bear, but the general look is the same. The markings are a creamy-yellowish color while the rest of the fur on the animal could be anywhere from brown to black. The spectacled bear is a small animal as bears go, the males generally weighing from 220 to 340 pounds, and the females 140 to 180 pounds. The animals are generally from 60-72 inches in length, with the females being about 30% smaller, on average, than the males.

The smallest bear in the world, being about half the size of the American black bear. Adults stand 2 1/4 feet tall and are 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet long. Adult males weigh between 63 and 143 pounds. Females are slightly smaller. Sun bears have a solid sleek body, short tail, small rounded ears and plantigrade feet (both heel and toe make contact with the ground when walking in a manner similar to humans). They have short bow-legs and sharp sickle-like claws. Sun bears have no hair on the soles of their feet, which assists them in getting a better grip when they climb trees.

Although black is the most common color of this bear, its color can range from light brown to dark brown. There is even a population of white Ursus americanus living on a remote island off the west coast of Canada. A solitary, predominantly vegetarian creature, the black bear uses its keen sense of smell to search out fruit, nuts, berries, and roots. However, this bear will also eat insects, honey, fish, and small mammals when the opportunity arises. It is an excellent tree climber and despite its size regularly ascends to the treetops to eat. From late fall until early spring,...

The giant panda has thick black fur on its ears, eyes, muzzle, legs and shoulders. The rest of it is white. The panda's striking coloring probably serves to help it blend in to both snowy and rocky environments. Pandas measure 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet long. Males weigh about 250 pounds, and females average 220. The panda has extremely strong jaw muscles and large teeth, which allow it crush bamboo, its main food. The panda has strong front legs, which it uses to climb trees. Its rear legs are weaker.

The polar bear has a thick, well-insulated coat comprising water-repellent guard hairs and a dense undercoat. The polar bear's coat and a layer of fat beneath it help keep the bear warm in its arctic habitat. The polar bear's fur is not soft, but quite oily, which helps repel water. It measures about 1 1/2 inches thick, and can vary in color from white to creamy-yellow to light brown. Large and stocky, male polar bears grow up to 9 feet long and weigh as much as 1,500 pounds. Females weigh as much as 500 pounds and measure 8 feet long. The polar bear's skin, nose and f...

The semi-aquatic polar bear was once considered to be nomadic, but has since been shown to have a very large home range — up to about 115 square miles (300 sq km). Pregnant bears den in the winter, the others hunt. Ringed seals are their preferred prey, but in winter, they will eat anything they can catch; in summer, they will eat leaves, berries, and seaweed. They are able to fast for months, drawing on stored fat at any time of the year. Their hairs are hollow, making for excellent insulators that are capable of trapping much of their radiating body heat. Only the nose an...

The American black bear is one of the most common bear species; it is also one of the world's largest terrestrial carnivores. When standing upright, black bears measure approximately 5 to 6 feet tall, with a tail length of roughly 5 inches. Depending on the food supply available in their range, female black bears weigh from 100 to 600 pounds, and males average between 250 and 700 pounds.

Technically, brown and grizzly bears are classified as the same species. Brown bear refers to the members of the species found in coastal areas; brown bears found inland and in northern habitats are called grizzlies. The brown bear can weigh between 200 and 1,700 pounds. Brown bears are the largest of all carnivores. They measure 5 to 9 feet in length from head to rump, and their tails are 2 to 5 inches long. With a shoulder height of 3 to 5 feet, they can tower an intimidating 8 feet when standing upright on their hind legs. On average, adult males are larger than females. The brown...

Native: Oriental. Melursus ursinus is found throughout India, Sri Lanka, and further north into Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. This species was fairly common in India and Sri Lanka until as recently as 20 years ago, now they are harder to find.

The Asiatic black bear is found mostly in the wet forests of southern Asia, including in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and China. They are also found further north in Russia, Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

Where does the grizzly bear come from? According to stories once told by natives of the Pacific Northwest, the grizzly bear was forged by the Great Spirit, who begot the animals of the world from his walking stick. With the heavy end of his staff, the Great Spirit sired a mighty beast to rule the others. It was so powerful and contentious that it chased its maker to the top of the world. This direful creature was the primordial grizzly bear.

A cute Panda bear is getting away from it's cage!

The Red Panda, Ailurus fulgens ("shining cat," from a Latinized form of the Greek, ailouros, "cat," and the participial form of the Latin fulgere, "to shine") is a mostly herbivorous mammal, slightly larger than a domestic cat (55 cm long). The Red Panda has semi-retractile claws and, like the Giant Panda, has a "false thumb" which is really an extension of the wrist bone. Thick fur on the soles of the feet offers protection from cold and hides scent glands. The Red Panda is native to the Himalayas in Nepal and southern China. The word panda is derived from Nepalese word "ponya" which means ba...

For most people, Kodiak's identity is inexorably linked with its most famous resident, the Kodiak brown bear. The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1941 to protect this unique population. Approximately 3,000 bears live in the archipelago, with many additional coastal brown bears inhabiting the Katmai Coast. The proximity of these populations make Kodiak an ideal bear viewing locale. Bears are rarely seen on the road system, but there are many guided opportunities to see bears in the Kodiak Island Archipelago. Most local air taxis offer half-day viewing excursions. Multi-da...

Reclusive herbivores, giant pandas once enjoyed a wide range in southern China. However, habitat destruction and poaching for their valuable fur have killed off most of them, leaving only about one thousand in the wild. The ancestors of the giant panda were carnivores, but its diet has evolved into one of mostly stalks and roots of the slow-growing, nutrient-poor bamboo. It spends ten to sixteen hours a day eating the twenty to forty pounds (9 to 18 kg) of bamboo it needs for its daily quota. It forages over a large area to get enough; a typical home range is about 1.5 to 2.5 squar...