Bear Facts

Bears

1. The shape of a bear’s claw differs according to the type of bear. Bears that climb, such as black bears, have claws that are curved and strong to allow them to claw at tree bark. Bears that dig, such as grizzly bears, have straight and long claws.
2. Koala bears are not bears at all and are not related to the bear family. They are marsupials.
3. A bear’s normal heartbeat is 40 beats per minute. A hibernating bear’s heart rate drops to 8 bpm.
4. Because bears can walk short distances on their hind legs, some Native Americans called them “the beast that walks like a man.”
5. The bear that a person living in North America is most likely to run into is the black bear. They live in wooded areas in every Canadian province, many U.S. states, and parts of Mexico.
6. Black bears are not always black. They come in a rainbow of colors from black to reddish brown (cinnamon bears) to light brown to white.
7. Unlike many mammals, bears can see in color.
8. The world’s most common bear is the brown bear.
9. When bears mate, the eggs within the female’s body are fertilized but do not implant in her uterus and begin developing for several months.
10. A swimming polar bear can jump 8 ft. (2.4 m) out of the water to surprise a seal.