Bears
All About Bear
BEARS ARE BIG, STRONG MAMMALS THAT spend most of their time alone. Their eyesight and hearing are poor, so they rely on their sense of smell to find food. Although they are related to meat-eaters, such as lions and wolves, most bears will eat almost anything, including berries, roots, and insects. Bears that live in cooler places become less active in winter and will sleep in dens throughout to avoid the cold weather. In fall they eat plenty to build up their fat reserves.
The bear was a predatory mammal more than five million years ago.
The bear is a predatory large mammal, that belongs to the canine suborder. Distinctive features are a stocky build of the body, powerful claws, and fangs, a short tail, and thick long hair. Bears are great at smelling and hearing.
STRONG BODY
Bears may vary in size, but they all look similar to this grizzly bear. They have a strong body and powerful legs, covered with thick fur. The large head has strong jaws and teeth that can crush any type of food.
ON THE MOVE
Bears normally move around on all fours. When walking, they place their feet flat on the ground, lifting the heel and sole of the foot off the ground with each step. When searching for food, bears usually walk slowly with a shuffling movement, but when chasing prey they can run fast over short distances.
BEAR CUBS
When bear cubs are born, they are tiny and helpless. They grow rapidly, spending a lot of time playing and learning to look after themselves. Even so, for the first year or so, they stay close to their mother, who protects them fiercely from danger.
