Brown Bear

bears · huge animals · forest dwellers · powerful diggers

Massive size rivals. Brown bears are among the biggest land carnivores, rivaled only by their closest relative, the polar bear. Male brown bears are larger and more powerfully built than females.

Humped muscle power. Brown bears have evolved unique large hump muscles on their shoulders that no other bears have. These muscles help them dig powerfully through dirt to find food.

Enormous digging paws. A brown bear's paws can grow up to 21 centimeters wide and 36 centimeters long, about the size of a dinner plate. Those giant paws are perfect tools for excavating ground to search for roots, grubs, and other buried snacks.

Rainbow-colored fur. Brown bear fur ranges from creamy light colors to reddish tones to dark chocolate brown. Their colors help them blend into forests and rocky terrain across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Flexible diet teeth. Brown bears have teeth adapted for eating almost anything, from plants to fish to other animals. Their flexible teeth show they are opportunistic eaters who munch whatever food they find.