Facts About the Eight Bear Species Found Throughout the World
Bears are some of the largest carnivores on the planet. Read on to learn more about the eight species of bears, which traditionally ranged in nearly every climate on earth.
North American Black Bear
The North American black bear is the most common bear found in North America. It ranges from Florida all the way northern Alaska and Canada. The largest adult males reach 600 pounds.
Brown Bear
Brown bears include grizzly bear and Kodiak bears, which live in Alaska and Canada. The heaviest recorded Kodiak bear weighed more than 2,500 pounds.
Andean Bear
Andean bears, or spectacled bears, have unique facial hair that has black and yellow fur around the eyes. These bears are only found in the Andes Mountains of South America.
Asiatic Black Bear
Asiatic black bears hunt at night. This species is found all over Asia and have a distinctive V-shaped pattern of fur on their necks.
Panda Bear
Panda bears are the only true vegetarians among bear species. The iconic black and white bears love to munch on bamboo.
Sloth Bear
Sloth bears have longer hair than most bears. Their favorite meal is termites. These animals are found in mountainous regions of India and Nepal.
Sun bear
Sun bears are the smallest bears in the world. They have a yellow, crescent-shaped patch of fur on their chests and live in southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
Article continues below
Our Featured Programs
See how we’re making a difference for People, Pets, and the Planet and how you can get involved!
Polar Bear
The polar bear is the third species of bear found in North America. Polar bears have all-white fur. Scientists regard polar bears as the largest bears on Earth, with brown bears coming in a close second.
Click here to your part to help protect polar bears from climate change.
Whizzco