Scientific name: Ursus arctos
There are numerous subspecies of the Brown bear, such as the much larger Kodiak and Kamchatkan bears. The details in this description relate to the European Brown bear.
Description
dult bears have a body length of between 1.7 and 2.2 metres; their shoulder height ranges from 0.9 to 1.1 metres. Their weight, which varies considerably depending on food availability and between seasons, is between 100 and 350 kg. Their colour varies from light brown to almost black. European brown bears are mostly medium brown in colour. Young bears often have a lighter coloured collar.
Distribution
Their range used to cover almost all of Europe. They also occur in northern and central Asia, and in North America. The remaining European populations are mostly very small and isolated.
Behaviour and Habitat
They are active during day and night. They are very shy and tend to avoid humans, so much so that they are rarely seen. Their habitats are large forests as well as higher mountain regions with few human habitations. Brown bears are omnivores who live on berries, fruit, roots, buds, sprouts, seeds, larger insects, honey, various vertebrates, carrion and sometimes also fish. During the winter they do not fall into a true hibernation but into a winter rest period during which they live off fat deposits accumulated during the summer and autumn.
Reproduction
Mating takes place from April to August. Following a gestation of 7 to 9 months usually 2 or 3 very small cubs are born. The cubs are suckled for roughly four month but remain with their mothers for at least two years. They reach sexual maturity at 3 to 4 years of age.
