Grizzly Bear in front of pool of water

Brown bear

Type
giant panda

Mammals

Area
world map
Various
Endangered Status

Stable

facts

size
6 to 9.5 feet
length of adult bear
The average bed is 6.25 feet long.
brown bear compared in size to a bed

Brown bears measure 3 to 4 feet tall at the shoulder. Males are bigger than females.

food
fish, berries,
roots, mammals, insects
Omnivore
Omnivore
habitat
forest
semi-desert, more
Forest habitat

Brown bears also live in open fields, mountain highlands, and tundra. They dig dens into hillsides.

description

Young brown bear wet after a dip in the water

Shades of brown

Brown bears are brown, right? Well, maybe! They come in all sizes and shades, from a light cream color to almost black. Grizzly bears are a type of brown bear, but not all brown bears are grizzlies! Brown bears can be found in northwestern North America, northern Asia, Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East.

Brown bear roaring
Grizzly bear walking in snow

Paws with claws

One thing all brown bears around the world have in common is a hump of muscle on their back between the shoulders. Combined with huge paws and long front claws, the muscles make these animals powerful diggers. They dig up food like roots, but also sometimes need to dig into a hillside to make a den.

Grizzly resting its head on a rock

Do not disturb

Brown bears can spend 4 to 6 months a year curled up deep in sleep in a den. This "winter sleep" allows the bears to stay alive for a long period of time when there is little or no food available to them.