The 25 Coolest Facts About Bears – A-Z Animals

Bears are one of the coolest mammals in the world. They are interesting animals that have a bad reputation for their size. To be fair, no one wants to run into a wild bear in the woods, especially if they are guarding cubs. Still, there is much more to bears than their size and tough appearance. Click through the slideshow to learn about the 25 coolest facts about bears. Maybe these facts will make you change your mind.
Despite their name, black bears aren’t entirely black. Instead, American black bears come in multiple shades of brown, black, and even blond.
You would think that the polar bear is the largest bear species with their impressive heights and weights, but is this true? Maybe. Another top contender for the title of largest living bear species is the Kodiak bear.
Grizzly bears are massive, easily standing tall at nearly 9 feet. They weigh up to 1,300 pounds – if not more.
Bears don’t eat just meat. Instead, they also consume berries and grasses.
Polar bears have large teeth and an even larger bite force. Their estimated bite force is about 1,200 PSI.
It’s rare to get attacked by a bear, but it still happens. There are about 40 bear attacks each year around the world.
Asiatic black bears are mainly nocturnal, spending most of their day sleeping.
Although panda bears are one of the more popular bear species, there aren’t many left. As of 2025, there are only between 1,800 and 2,000 giant pandas left in the wild.
The name of the baby bear is cub. Cubs live with their mothers for around 18 months.
Currently, there are eight living bear species. These include the North American black bear, the sun bear, the sloth bear, the Asiatic black bear, the giant panda, the brown bear, the polar bear, and the spectacled bear.
According to National Geographic, North American black bears live in diverse habitats like forests, mountains, and swamps.
The sun bear is the smallest bear species. It only grows up to 150 pounds. Many only reach 60 to 80 pounds.
Bears are important animals in spirituality. They symbolize many things, including strength, protection, healing, bravery, and confidence.
While sloth bears aren’t endangered, their numbers are decreasing. Because of this, they are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
As large as grizzly bears are, they don’t have the longest claws. Instead, this title goes to sun bears with their four-inch claws.
Did you know that polar bears have black skin? Their fur is also not white, but instead translucent.
The only living bear species left in South America is the spectacled bear.
It’s strange to think just how fast bears grow. A Kodiak baby bear (cub) is born weighing only about one pound.
Bear cubs are very sweet and affectionate with each other. They play a lot which can look like they are fighting.
One of the best swimming bear species is the polar bear. They can swim for up to 6 mph and long distances. Scientists have tracked polar bears swimming more than 100 miles in just a few days.
One of the most incredible facts about the spectacled bear is they are excellent climbers. According to National Geographic, these unique bears can climb up to 14,000 feet. They spend much of their day resting in trees.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, giant pandas spend 10 to 16 hours a day eating. The bulk of their diet comes from bamboo.
On average, humans have about 32 teeth. Adult bears have about ten more, depending on the species.
About a third of the living bear species are in North America. In North America, you can find black, brown, and polar bears.
Have you ever wondered why honey and bears are lumped together? Some bears love honey and will attack beehives. Still, in the wild, this is uncommon to see.
Written by Nixza Gonzalez
Published: April 11, 2025
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
We appreciate your help in improving our content.
Our editorial team will review your suggestions and make any necessary updates.
There was an error submitting your feedback. Please try again.
Why Crepuscular Animals Thrive at Twilight
Kit Fox
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure.
A-Z-Animals.com is Copyright © 2008 – 2025 A-Z Animals

source