The bear is a mammal that is classified as a caniform. There are presently only eight different species of bears alive and they are spread out mostly in the Northern and Southern hemisphere. Other continents, such as Asia and Europe, also have bears living on them. To learn more about bears, go to Wikipedia and 42explore. To learn about the many facts and trivia concerning bears, visit Bear. For a kid-friendly fact site, go to Edtech.

Habitat

Each species of bears will prefer a different habitat. For example, the North American black bear will prefer a heavily-wooded area, while the grizzly likes the rain forest. Contrary to popular belief, a bear is not territorial over their habitat, and will usually ignore anther bear in their area most of the time. To learn more about the habitats of different species of bears, go to Whyte, Panda, and Think Quest.

Types of Bears

There are eight main species of bears alive today. These include the grizzly, polar, giant panda, American black, Asiatic black, brown, sloth, and spectacled bear. Each type of bear is different and unique, with certain habitats and food preferences. To learn more about the eight types of bears, go to Poisson and WiseGeek. To see pictures of bears in their natural habitats, go to Hicker Photo and Alaska in Pictures.

Diet

Although bears are classified as meat-eaters, most of their diet, up to 90%, comes from plants. This includes grass, flowers, leaves, berries, fruits, and nuts. Mice, frogs, squirrels, and bird eggs are also a part of the diet for many specifies of bear. For more information on the diet of bears, go to Biology and Wildlifenews. For a kid-friendly website, visit Idahoptv. To learn more about black bears and their eating habits, read up at Want to Know It.

Hibernation

The black and brown bear both hibernate during the winter, and the pregnant polar bear will as well. To prepare for hibernation, the bear will consume as much food as it can. Hibernation can last from 4 to 7 months, and the female hibernates the longest. To learn more about a bears’ hibernation habits, visit Bear With Us and Suite 101. For hibernation facts, go to Polar Bears International.

Threats

Most bears will avoid humans, and the threat of an attack is rare. However, it is important to know what to do in the event that an encounter with a bear occurs. Learn the facts at American Trails, Mountain Nature, and Forest Facts.