There are three species of bear native to North America. Most quite a few North American bears. The most common is the American black bear, followed by the brown bear and then the polar bear. Discovered throughout Canada, the USA, and Mexico. Weighs 200 to 600 pounds. Could be darkish or light brown (cinnamon), typically even white. Not all the time black in coloration. 900,000 and never threatened. 📍Location: The American black bear will be discovered throughout Canada, the USA, and Mexico. Nonetheless, some subspecies such because the Louisiana black bear are protected below the U.S. 📏 Measurement: Adults weigh 200 to 600 pounds and are 5 to six ft in size. 👀 Options: Most black bears are black, however their fur can range from dark brown to lighter brown (cinnamon) and even white on rare occasions. They've pointed ears and a straight face. Of all of the bear species black bears are some of the very best at climbing trees. Their comparatively smaller size and shorter claws make them fast and nimble to climb trees for safety, meals, and even hibernation. The majority of their weight-reduction plan is vegetarian consisting of berries, plant shoots, and nuts. 🌱 Food plan: Their varied weight-reduction plan gives them the ability to dwell in a big range of habitats. Additionally they eat insects, fish, and carrion. 😱 Harmful? They're the more than likely bear to be encountered within the backcountry. And yes, they love honey. The grizzly and Kodiak are the 2 subspecies of brown bears in North America. Most widespread bear species are found in the northern Rocky Mountains, Alaska, Asia, Europe, and the Center East. Brown bears are the most widespread of all bear species, found within the northern Rocky Mountains, Alaska, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Grizzlies are responsible for almost all bear attacks in North America, with 46 per yr. Though their conservation status is “least concern”, their spread-out nature and diminished habitat make most of the small remaining pockets fragile. The 200,000 brown bears of the world occupy a large number of habitats spanning deserts, forests, and mountains. All brown bears share a large construct, a dish-formed face, and a shoulder hump. Their hair is lighter at the ideas, which led to the title of probably the most famous subspecies, grizzly. Brown bears forage on roots, berries, insects, and fish, and a few even hunt young mammals resembling elk and moose. Their colour varies from gentle blonde to dark brown. The 2 subspecies in North America are the grizzly and Kodiak. 📍Location: Grizzly bears are discovered within the northern USA, Canada, and Alaska. 📏 Measurement: Adults weigh 400 to 790 pounds, are 6.5 ft lengthy, and have a shoulder height of 3.Three toes. 🌱 Weight loss program: Grizzlies eat berries, nuts, salmon and have been recognized to prey on large mammals. Coastal grizzlies tend to be larger than those discovered in the Rocky Mountains due to a richer weight loss program. Each year there are forty six assaults and 6 deaths. 😱 Harmful? Recognized for their aggressive behavior, grizzlies are accountable for probably the most bear assaults in North America. 📍Location: Kodiak bears are only discovered on the Kodiak Islands, an archipelago in southwestern Alaska. 📏 Measurement: Kodiak bears are virtually as large as polar bears, weighing 600 to 1,400 pounds, 8 toes lengthy, and 4 toes tall on the shoulder. 🌱 Eating regimen: Their weight loss program is much like mainland grizzly bears. Nonetheless, because of extra plentiful food sources, the islands can assist a denser bear population. Geographic isolation from the mainland allowed the 3,500 Kodiak bears to turn into their very own subspecies. This has led to a extra complex social construction which results in less battle between bears. 😱 Dangerous? Like grizzlies, Kodiak bears can be aggressive. Because of their isolation, there is just one assault on people every different year. Largest species of bear in the world weighing between 800 and 1,300 pounds. Weight-reduction plan is mostly made up of meat, often from seals. 📍Location: Polar bears are the most important bears and largest land carnivores on the planet. Fur seems white but is definitely clear. The world’s 20,000 to 30,000 polar bears vary within the snow-lined arctic ice in Alaska, Canada, Russia, and Norway. 📏 Measurement: Adult polar bears are 800 to 1,300 pounds and might be 7 to 10 feet tall. They are a threatened species because of lack of habitat from local weather change. Despite their huge size polar bears could be fast, sustaining a 6 mph pace in the water. 👀 Features: Compared to other bears, polar bears have a slimmer body, slim head, longer neck, and paddle-like paws. For context, swimmer Michael Phelps won Olympic gold medals with a 4.7 mph pace! 🌱 Food regimen: Their diet consists mostly of animals, especially seals which they'll scent from a mile away. Although they seem white, their fur is actually clear and their pores and skin is black. 😱 Dangerous? Polar bears will be extraordinarily dangerous. They see humans as potential prey. Attacks are rare because of the remote nature of their habitat. Recognized for its cream colour chest blazes. At 300 pounds one of many smaller bears. Straightforward to tame and often frequent in circuses. 📍Location: The Asian black bear is found in forests and shrublands throughout Asia from Iran to Japan. The inhabitants is estimated at 40,000 to 50,000 and is considered susceptible. 📏 Dimension: One of the smaller species, adults weigh round 300 pounds and stand forty seven to 75 inches tall. 🌱 Eating regimen: Depending on the season it commonly feeds on small mammals, birds, fish, mollusks and carcasses or grasses, fruits, berries, seeds, insects, and honey. Assaults on humans are growing as individuals encroach on their habitat. 😱 Dangerous? They are one in all the simplest bears to tame (and subsequently widespread in circuses), however Asian black bears are extra aggressive than their North American counterparts. Discovered only in China. 99% of its food regimen is bamboo. Actually, the second particular person in historical past to receive a facial transplant was mauled by an Asian black bear whereas defending his sheep. Recognized for its iconic white face, eye patches, and striped body. 📍Location: Pandas are discovered only in China. Solely 1,500 to 2,000 remain in the wild and they are thought of a vulnerable species. 📏 Size: Pandas weigh round 300 pounds and will be over 4 feet tall, an impressive feat contemplating they weigh solely about 3.5 ounces at beginning. It additionally has a detailed cousin, the Qinling panda which has the same sample in light ikea panda teddy brown and white. 🌱 Food regimen: In contrast to other bears the panda’s food regimen is homogeneous; 99% of what they eat is bamboo. 👀 Options: The giant panda is iconic for its white face, black eye patches, and striped physique. All that fibrous bamboo retains them regular: they poop over forty occasions a day! 😱 Harmful? Assaults are uncommon but dangerous, on condition that pandas have one in all the highest chew forces of any carnivore. Smallest Bear weighing fifty five to 143 pounds. Found in South East Asia. Eight to 10-inch long tongue for slurping up insects and honey. 📍Location: The Sun bear is discovered in the forest and shrubland of South East Asia and India. It's the least studied bear and. Its inhabitants is uncertain but thought of susceptible and on the decline because of lack of habitat and poaching. Sun bears are hunted for their gallbladders and different body components utilized in traditional medicines. 📏 Dimension: They stand only 39 to 55 inches and weigh 55 to 143 pounds making them the smallest bear. 👀 Options: Sun bears have strongly curved claws, small rounded ears, and a short snout. They are named for his or her pale, horseshoe-formed chest patch that looks like a rising sun. They also eat seeds, fruit, birds, and deer. 🌱 Food regimen: Solar bears tear apart trees and nests to eat ants, bees, beetles, termites, and honey. Their love of honey has given them the nickname “honey bears.” In fact, they've an extremely lengthy tongue (8-10 inches) for slurping up insects and honey. Native to South Asia. 😱 Harmful? Due to its shy nature, attacks are rare. Lengthy, shaggy fur and mane gave them the name sloth bear. Sloth bears are feared by rhinos and elephants. 📍Location: The Sloth bear is discovered in the low elevation savanna and shrubland of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. With a declining inhabitants of lower than 20,000, they are thought-about weak. 📏 Dimension: They are fifty five to seventy five inches long and weigh 200 to 300 pounds. 👀 Features: With their long shaggy fur and mane, they're straightforward to tell aside from other Asiatic bears. In reality, they are very fast and may out-gallop humans. European explorers mistook them for sloths after seeing them hanging the other way up from bushes. They are noisy, messy eaters tearing up termite mounds with their big curved claws. 🌱 Eating regimen: Their food regimen consists of termites, ants, and fruit. 😱 Harmful? They're one of the crucial aggressive bears, with essentially the most attacks on humans, mostly due to surprise encounters. They blow the dust round with massive puffs and suck the ants up so loudly they can be heard 600 toes away. Sloth bears stand their ground if threatened and don't combine properly with rhinos and elephants, usually charging at each other when in proximity. Solely South American bear. World’s final short-confronted bear. The title “spectacled” comes from the lighter markings round their eyes that appear like glasses. This weak species of 13,000 to 18,000 remaining bears are found in the cloud forests of the Andes from Argentina to Ecuador. 📏 Dimension: They're mid-sized, weighing 175 to 275 pounds, and standing 47 to seventy nine inches tall. 📍Location: The spectacled bear is the world’s final quick-faced bear and the one bear native to South America. 👀 Options: The name “spectacled” comes from the lighter markings around their eyes that sometimes appear like glasses. They spend most of their time in trees the place they construct nest platforms, sleep and jealously guard precious fruit and carcasses. 🌱 Weight loss program: Spectacled bears are principally herbivores with a weight-reduction plan consisting of principally cactus, bromeliad, palm hearts, and fruit, however they will opportunistically eat mammals like rabbits and tapirs. 😱 Dangerous? Residing in distant mountains, these shy bears would be the least harmful of all bear species. Their our bodies are smaller than polar bears but bigger than grizzlies. The Grolar bear (aka Pizzly) is a rare hybrid of a polar bear and a grizzly bear that happens in both nature and captivity. Grolar bear habits is nearer to the polar bear. They characteristic the long necks of polar bears and the shoulder humps of grizzlies. In captivity, they have been documented stomping toys, just like how polar bears break ice. Black-brown hybrid bears have been bred in captivity, notably on the London Zoo in 1859, however haven't been confirmed within the wild. In 1986, a suspected grizzly-brown hybrid was shot however DNA assessments had been unable to find out what type of bear it was. Adorable koalas are not bears, they're burly marsupials. Water bears aren’t bears both, they are indestructible, microscopic animals that can survive in space. Most bear assaults occur when a bear is startled or protecting their cubs. Red pandas? They’re in their very own household that are nearer cousins with skunks and raccoons than bears. 1. BEWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. Look ahead to bear scat and bear tracks that will indicate a bear is nearby, in which case you want to be additional vigilant. Here are a few ideas you need to use to forestall bear encounters and keep you and your hiking buddies safe. 2. MAKE NOISE. This helps bears know you are right here so they don't by accident startle them. Consider attaching a bear bell to your pack. 3. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. While you may have nice intentions, a bear is more likely to really feel threatened when it sees you approaching and defend itself. 3. Secure YOUR SCENTED Items (AT CAMP). If you happen to see a bear, do not try to method or feed it. This includes meals, but also your toiletries, for instance. Whichever method you select, be sure it's no less than 200 toes away out of your tent so you do not appeal to bears to your campsite. 4. Stay CALM. In case you meet a bear, do not run. Attempt to make your self look as big as potential, waving your arms above your head. You too can extend a jacket above your head to make your self look bigger. Lock this stuff in a bear canister or use a bear bag to dangle them up in a tree. Do not scream or attempt to scare the bear. 5. USE BEAR SPRAY (AS A last RESORT). Converse to it calmly and slowly back away. Full instruction on how to make use of bear spray here. If the bear is dangerously close (30 toes) or is charging at you, pull out your bear spray and use it in 1-2 second bursts, aiming slightly downward. 6. Battle Again. If all else fails and a bear attacks you, do not play lifeless. Which bear is the biggest? Averaging 900-1500 lbs, 8.0 to 8.4 toes long, and 4.0 to 5.25 ft tall, the biggest bear by both dimension and weight is the polar bear. The biggest ever recorded was 2,200 lbs. Fight back with all of your strength and hope that it'll again down. Which bear is probably the most harmful? All bears are dangerous if provoked. Globally, the Asian black bear is understood for the most assaults. When in bear nation, it’s all the time clever to carry bear spray. It’s well deserved, especially when cubs are round. Every year there are roughly forty six grizzly assaults, 6 leading to dying. In North America, grizzly bears have essentially the most fearsome status. Which bear is the strongest? While you’re most likely to see an American black bear, on common there is only one attack per 12 months. By way of uncooked chunk power, measured in Newtons, the polar bear's chunk reigns supreme. All bears are strong and to not be messed with. When using the bite pressure quotient (chew power relative to dimension), the sun bear packs the most punch. Initially named “Hotfoot Teddy”, Smokey Bear was a black bear cub discovered in the spring of 1950 after a wildfire in New Mexico. He had climbed a tree to escape the fireplace however sustained burns on his paws and hind legs. Quickly after he became an icon and to this present day is the star of the longest-running public service announcement marketing campaign. Yogi Bear is an animated bear recognized for his love of “pic-a-nic” baskets. Extra importantly Yogi Bear has inspired numerous via-hikers to try to grasp the art of “yogi-ing”, the act of not quite begging however receiving favors from strangers. Baloo s a sloth bear, though he has some traits of the Asian black bear. He is an easygoing, friendly bear who lives a duty-free way of life. He additionally might be the first bear to receive his pilot’s license. Earlier than he was the storybook teddy bear, Winnie the Pooh was a black bear from Canada which the author’s son usually would go to at the London Zoo. Winnie is short for “Winnipeg,” the town in Canada close to the place he was from. Chris additionally wrote The way to Hike the Appalachian Path. Equal components backpacking food and ultralight gear. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Chris Cage created Greenbelly to supply quick, filling and balanced meals to backpackers. Get epic ideas, guides and how-to's in your inbox each two weeks.