Items8The creator’s order
  1. 1Brown bearBrown bearLook for the shoulder hump, rather than relying on coat color. This is the bear found across parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Its diet changes with local opportunities: in salmon country fish can draw many bears to the same water, while plants, insects, and other animals feed bears…0
  2. 2American black bearAmerican black bearThe name is an unreliable color guide. American black bears can be black, brown, cinnamon, or blond. Many live in North American forests, and their food changes across the year as new plants, berries, and nuts become available. In places they share with brown bears, the lack of a pronounced…0
  3. 3Polar bearPolar bearThe pale coat and long head are useful clues, but sea ice explains most about how this Arctic bear lives. It uses the ice to reach seals, especially ringed seals. The species ranges around the Arctic, and its feeding opportunities depend on when and where that ice is available. IUCN global status:…0
  4. 4Asian black bearAsian black bearA pale crescent on the chest, large rounded ears, and a ruff of longer hair distinguish this forest bear. It ranges from Iran through parts of the Himalayas and East and Southeast Asia. Nuts and fruit can make up a large part of its food, and it climbs in search of them. IUCN global status:…0
  5. 5Giant pandaGiant pandaThe black eye patches give this bear away, but its dependence on bamboo sets its daily life apart. In mountain forests in central China it feeds almost entirely on bamboo. That specialization makes the availability of connected forest habitat especially important. IUCN global status: Vulnerable.0
  6. 6Sloth bearSloth bearDense shaggy hair and a long, pale muzzle identify this bear of the Indian subcontinent. It can shut its nostrils against dust and suck termites or ants out of their nests. Mothers routinely carry small cubs on their backs, where the cubs can grip the long fur. IUCN global status: Vulnerable.0
  7. 7Sun bearSun bearThis small Southeast Asian bear has short dark fur and often a gold or cream marking on its chest. It climbs well and uses its long tongue to reach foods such as insects or honey in cavities. Fruit also matters in its tropical forest diet. IUCN global status: Vulnerable.0
  8. 8Spectacled bearSpectacled bearSouth America's only living bear is also called the Andean bear. Some individuals have pale markings around their eyes like glasses, while others have much less facial marking. It climbs readily and eats a wide range of plant foods, including tough bromeliads as well as fruit. IUCN global status:…0