About Bears

Bears are some of the most magnificent creatures on Earth, and have been heralded as such in human mythology and legend. They are large, canine-like animals with massive bodies. Bears are found spread out across the globe, though they all fall into eight specific categories of bear. While their numbers are fairly strong in general, some species of bear are threatened due to poaching and illegal animal trade.

Identification

Bears have a large and robust frame that is composed mainly of muscle and some fat for bears in colder climates. They have short legs and appear to lumber as they walk because they tend to put all their weight onto their hind legs. They face has a snout resembling that of a canine and their heads are topped with rounded ears. The color of a bear's fur varies from white to brown to black.

Features

Bears have an extremely keen sense of smell, which they use for hunting and tracking their prey, or for foraging for vegetation. All bears have claws on their paws that are non-retractable. These are used for digging and climbing, as bears are excellent climbers. Though their bodies are massive, they have powerful legs that allow them to run at speeds upwards of thirty miles per hour. A bear's teeth features large molars for crushing plant matter, as well as canines for eating meat, though many scientists believe that bears are still evolving to become total herbivores.

Types

There are eight different species of bear, all falling under the same family, Ursidae. They are the Asiatic Black Bear, the Brown Bear, the North American Black Bear, the Panda Bear, the Polar Bear, the Sloth Bear, the Spectacled Bear and the Sun Bear. All of these bears share close similarities, with the most extreme versions of a bear being the Polar Bear, which is mostly carnivorous, and the Panda Bear, which feeds mainly on bamboo and plant life.

Geography

The eight different species of bear are all spread across the world, though they are mainly part of the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere does have its fair share of bears, however. The Polar Bear has adapted to life in arctic regions, feeding on other animals as there is little in the way of plant life. They also have a thicker layer of fur. Other bears prefer more temperate climates and enjoy plains and forests as their homes.

Warning

Bears are beginning to dwindle in numbers because of poaching and the illegal trade of bears, especially for their bile. Bile from a bear's gallbladder is often extracted for use in Chinese medicine. This trade, however, is harming bear populations and certain species are becoming threatened, with no species of bear having enough members of their population to be considered common as of 2009.

Resources

• More on Bear Poaching and Bile Farming