Fun Facts

Bear Facts

1. The largest mammalian carnivore that ever lived on land was the giant short-faced bear. Twice the size of the biggest modern bear, it was 6' 5" tall at the shoulder when standing on all fours. Scientists believe it had very long legs and chased antelope on the North American prairies. It died around 12,000 years ago.
2. The sloth bear has the shaggiest fur. The sun bear has the shortest fur so it can keep cool in the hot forests of Southeast Asia.
3. The most accurate way to determine the age of a bear is to count the rings in a cross section of its tooth root under a microscope.
4. Bears have two layers of fur. A short layer of fur keeps the bear warm. And a long layer keeps water away from the skin and short fur.
  Bears are highly intelligent animals
5. Bears are very smart and have been known to roll rocks into bear traps to set off the trap and eat the bait in safety.
6. Bears live as long as 30 years in the wild. One captive brown bear lived to the age of 47.
7. Bears are bowlegged. This gives them better grip and balance.
8. Only the polar bear is a true carnivore. All other bears are omnivores, or animals that eat both plants and meat.
9. Sun bears have the longest claws of any bear. They also have the longest tongues, which can reach 9.8" long.
10. Bears can run up to 40 miles per hour, fast enough to catch a running horse. The fastest known human alive today is Usain Bolt, who can run 27mph.