Brown bear | Diet, Habitat, & Facts

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class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/brown-bear/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/brown-bear">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/brown-bear/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/149571-050-C33E9F0F/Brown-bear-Finland.jpg" data-href="/media/1/81665/156354" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/149571-004-C1F46E1F/Brown-bear-Finland.jpg" alt="brown bear" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/100371-050-A69E9BD1/Brown-bear.jpg" data-href="/media/1/81665/101234" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/100371-004-8D3FA78B/Brown-bear.jpg" alt="brown bear" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/brown-bear-food-cache-wolves/195761" data-href="/media/1/81665/195761" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/180369-138-B8ECFF1C/brown-bear-food-cache-wolves.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Watch a wolf and bear interact in 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data-href="/media/1/81665/195758" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/180366-138-C463136C/honeybees-brown-bears-Ural-Mountains.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Protecting the endangered Burzyan honeybee in Russia" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/118756-050-8920475B/Eurasian-brown-bear-zoo.jpg" data-href="/media/1/81665/156865" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/118756-004-2C153DB5/Eurasian-brown-bear-zoo.jpg" alt="Eurasian brown bear" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/231947-050-E5577DD5/global-map-geographic-ranges-8-bear-species.jpg" 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</div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>brown bear</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">mammal, Ursus arctos</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="81665"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <div> <a class="js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" href="/print/article/81665" target="_blank" > <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-10-23T00:00:00CDT" >Oct 23, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/brown-bear/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/science/charismatic-megafauna" topicid="2233706">charismatic megafauna</a></dd> <dd><a href="/animal/grizzly-bear" topicid="246460">grizzly bear</a></dd> <dd><a href="/animal/Kodiak-bear" topicid="320940">Kodiak bear</a></dd> <dd><a href="/animal/Siberian-brown-bear" topicid="542611">Siberian brown bear</a></dd> <dd><a href="/animal/Eurasian-brown-bear" topicid="195535">Eurasian brown bear</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/brown-bear"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="101234" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/100371-050-A69E9BD1/Brown-bear.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/81665/101234"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/100371-050-A69E9BD1/Brown-bear.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/100371-050-A69E9BD1/Brown-bear.jpg?w=300" alt="brown bear" data-width="1138" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/100371-050-A69E9BD1/Brown-bear.jpg" data-href="/media/1/81665/101234">brown bear</a><span>Brown bear (<em>Ursus arctos</em>).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref23744"></span>brown bear</strong>, (<em>Ursus arctos</em>), shaggy-haired <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/bear" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">bear</a> (family Ursidae) native to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Europe</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Asia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Asia</a>, and northwestern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North America</a>. Numerous forms of the brown bear have been described; they are treated as several subspecies of <em>Ursus arctos</em>. One subspecies, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/Kodiak-bear" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Kodiak bear</a> (<em>U. arctos middendorffi</em>), weighs up to 720 kg (1,600 pounds) and is often considered to be the world’s largest <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/carnivore-mammal" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">carnivore</a>, a title it shares with the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/polar-bear" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">polar bear</a> (<em>U. maritimus</em>), which grows to a similar size. Although North American brown bears are traditionally called <span id="ref1247754"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/grizzly-bear" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">grizzlies</a>, this common name refers formally to the subspecies <em>U. arctos horribilis</em>, which is widespread across northwestern North America (<em>see</em> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/grizzly-bear" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">grizzly bear</a>).</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="195761" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="video" video-id="180369"><a data-id="180369" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/brown-bear-food-cache-wolves/-195761"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/180369-138-B8ECFF1C/brown-bear-food-cache-wolves.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="Watch a wolf and bear interact in Russia's coniferous forests" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/JCw4INmy.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/69/180369-138-B8ECFF1C/brown-bear-food-cache-wolves.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/yoI6W6aB", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/FB2gzL4b.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 3</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="180369">Watch a wolf and bear interact in Russia's coniferous forests</span><span>A brown bear protecting its food cache from wolves.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/animal/brown-bear/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="195769" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="video" video-id="180378"><a data-id="180378" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/Brown-bears-salmon-Kamchatka-Peninsula-Pacific/-195769"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/180378-138-50BC8A4D/Brown-bears-salmon-Kamchatka-Peninsula-Pacific.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="Kamchatka brown bears and the annual salmon run" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/0WMqfFi7.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/78/180378-138-50BC8A4D/Brown-bears-salmon-Kamchatka-Peninsula-Pacific.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/mJgWh5vf", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/y2N7a1LV.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 3</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="180378">Kamchatka brown bears and the annual salmon run</span><span>Brown bears of the Kamchatka Peninsula feeding on Pacific salmon migrating upstream to spawn.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/animal/brown-bear/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="195758" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="video" video-id="180366"><a data-id="180366" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/honeybees-brown-bears-Ural-Mountains/-195758"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/180366-138-C463136C/honeybees-brown-bears-Ural-Mountains.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="Protecting the endangered Burzyan honeybee in Russia" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/c3sdS7Oz.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/66/180366-138-C463136C/honeybees-brown-bears-Ural-Mountains.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/He0QIYfD", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/BRhI5lMK.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">3 of 3</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="180366">Protecting the endangered Burzyan honeybee in Russia</span><span>Learn about the beekeepers, honeybees, and brown bears that live in the foothills of the Ural Mountains in Russia.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/animal/brown-bear/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Brown bears are omnivorous and feed on berries, plant <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/root-plant" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">roots</a> and shoots, small <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/mammal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mammals</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/fish" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fish</a>, calves of many hoofed animals, and carrion. They often <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="cache" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cache" data-type="MW">cache</a> food in shallow holes, and they dig readily and vigorously in search of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/rodent" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">rodents</a>. Except in some southern areas, bears retire to dens in winter; they accumulate large amounts of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/fat" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">fat</a> during late summer and autumn. Cubs, usually twins, are born in winter after about six to eight months of <span id="ref887104"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/gestation" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gestation</a>. At birth a cub weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 pounds).</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="156865" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/118756-050-8920475B/Eurasian-brown-bear-zoo.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/81665/156865"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/118756-050-8920475B/Eurasian-brown-bear-zoo.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/118756-050-8920475B/Eurasian-brown-bear-zoo.jpg?w=300" alt="Eurasian brown bear" data-width="1600" data-height="1081" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/118756-050-8920475B/Eurasian-brown-bear-zoo.jpg" data-href="/media/1/81665/156865">Eurasian brown bear</a><span>Eurasian brown bear swimming in a zoo.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><span id="ref23745"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/Eurasian-brown-bear" class="md-crosslink ">Eurasian brown bears</a> are generally solitary animals that are able to run and swim well. They are usually 120–210 cm (about 48–83 inches) long and weigh 135–250 kg (300–550 pounds); the exceptionally large <span id="ref23746"></span>Siberian brown bear (<em>U. arctos beringianus</em>), weighing as much as 360 kg (800 pounds), approximates the size of the North American <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/grizzly-bear" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">grizzly</a>. Coat colour is highly variable, ranging from grayish white through bluish and brownish shades to almost black. Eurasian brown bears are commonly seen in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/zoo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">zoos</a>; formerly they were often trained to move rhythmically to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/music" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">music</a>—the so-called dancing bears of European carnivals and festivals. They once roamed most of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Europe</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Asia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Asia</a>; however, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/animal" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">animal’s</a> southern range has been significantly reduced.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/match-the-baby-animal-to-its-mama-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/243957-131-4BD7E5E6/mute-swan-with-cygnet.jpg" alt="Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz</div> </div> </a><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="269990" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/231947-050-E5577DD5/global-map-geographic-ranges-8-bear-species.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/81665/269990"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/231947-050-E5577DD5/global-map-geographic-ranges-8-bear-species.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/231947-050-E5577DD5/global-map-geographic-ranges-8-bear-species.jpg?w=300" alt="Geographic ranges of living species of bears" data-width="2000" data-height="1350" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/231947-050-E5577DD5/global-map-geographic-ranges-8-bear-species.jpg" data-href="/media/1/81665/269990">Geographic ranges of living species of bears</a><span>Geographic ranges of the eight living species of bears.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="270360" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/236204-050-1E0C1FE7/Bear-901-Fat-Bear-Week-2022.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/81665/270360"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/236204-050-1E0C1FE7/Bear-901-Fat-Bear-Week-2022.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/236204-050-1E0C1FE7/Bear-901-Fat-Bear-Week-2022.jpg?w=300" alt="brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Alaska's Katmai Peninsula" data-width="1261" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/236204-050-1E0C1FE7/Bear-901-Fat-Bear-Week-2022.jpg" data-href="/media/1/81665/270360">brown bear (<em>Ursus arctos</em>) in Alaska's Katmai Peninsula</a><span>Brown bears (<em>Ursus arctos</em>) retire to dens in winter, and they accumulate large amounts of fat during late summer and autumn. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Brown bears have an extremely large geographic distribution, and their worldwide population totals more than 200,000 individuals. For these reasons, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/IUCN-Red-List-of-Threatened-Species" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species</a> has classified the brown bear as a species of least concern. Brown bears living in close proximity to humans are often regarded as pests because of the animals’ attraction to human foods. Their large size and relatively aggressive <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="disposition" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disposition" data-type="MW">disposition</a> can unsettle people who come in contact with them, and brown bears that frequent human settlements are sometimes killed by landowners and government officials. Other sources of brown bear mortality include collisions with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/locomotive-vehicle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">trains</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/automobile" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">automobiles</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/poaching-law" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">poaching</a>, and sport <a href="https://www.britannica.com/sports/hunting-sport" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hunting</a>. In addition, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/gallbladder" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gallbladder</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/bile" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">bile</a> of some brown bears are harvested to make <span id="ref1247755"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/folk-medicine" class="md-crosslink ">traditional medicines</a> that purportedly <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="alleviate" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleviate" data-type="MW">alleviate</a> digestive problems and inflammation and purify the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/blood-biochemistry" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">blood</a>. Many harvesting operations also remove and sell the animals’ paws, which are considered a delicacy in parts of Asia. The <span id="ref1245389"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ainu" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ainu people</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Japan</a> worship the brown bear as a god of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mountain-landform" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mountains</a>, and some mountain-dwelling Ainu consider the bear their ancestor.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span><span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/John-P-Rafferty/6747">John P. 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Brown bear | Diet, Habitat, & Facts | Britannica