Brown bears

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) can be found in much of North America, Asia and parts of Europe. The largest subspecies, the Kodiak Bear can weigh as much as 750 kilos, losing marginally to the Polar Bear as the largest land predator.

Thankfully the subspecies found in Sweden, the Eurasian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos arctos) is usually smaller.  Eurasian brown bears are identified by their large heads, small eyes and ears and the large hump on the shoulder area. They have thick fur that varies in colour from light to dark brown. They have a summer and winter coat that they replace in the late spring and early autumn. The length of a bear can be 2.8m long from it's nose to the root of it's tail and they may be 1.5m high at the shoulder. Their weight varies hugely throughout the year being greatest in the autumn. Males can weigh between 100-300 kilos and females 60-200 kilos. The largest brown bear killed in Europe was 373 kilos.

Bears are omnivorous. Research in Sweden has revealed that up to 45% of their yearly diet is made up of berries and 20% ants. The final part of their diet consists of grasses and cadavers. They are responsible for about 25% of kills on elk calves and sometimes take on fully gown elk. In the autumn a bear may consume as much as 20,000 calories a day. During hibernation a bear eats and drinks nothing!