Brown Bearヒグマ

Species Data

Classification

Carnivora / Ursidae Source

Distribution

Brown bears historically ranged across Eurasia, North Africa, and North America, and today remain widespread in Russia and parts of Europe, Asia, and North America; in Japan they are found on Hokkaido. Source

Did You Know?

• Brown bears have a muscular hump on their shoulders, unique among bear species, believed to have evolved to power their strong digging ability. Source
• Brown bears in Yellowstone have been documented eating up to 40,000 army cutworm moths in a single day, deriving up to half their annual energy intake from these insects. Source
• Cubs learn much of their survival behavior by observation rather than instinct alone, watching their mothers to learn what to eat and how to hunt. Source

FAQ

Are brown bears mostly carnivores?

No — despite their fearsome reputation, brown bears are highly omnivorous and get up to 90% of their dietary energy from plant matter like berries, grasses, roots, and fungi. Source

What is the hump on a brown bear's shoulders?

It's a mass of muscle, unique among bear species, that powers the brown bear's exceptionally strong digging ability. Source

Are brown bears endangered?

The species overall is Least Concern, with a stable global population of about 200,000, though some regional subspecies and isolated populations remain endangered. Source