About

Layers on layers: Bears have thick, layered coats. Bears are certainly big and fluffy, but there’s a lot more than meets the eye! A polar bear’s coat is made up of two unique layers: The shorter coat provides insulation from weather, while the longer coat prevents water from reaching the short coat layer and skin. Each layer serves a unique purpose and allows bears to thrive in frigid conditions.

Bears are big, strong, and fast! Grizzly bears possess a biting force of over 1200 PSI, which is enough to crush a bowling ball or an iron skillet.Adult grizzly bears can run up to an incredible 40mph—the same pace as a greyhound—and would break the speed limit on many roads in the US! Polar bears, the largest of all bear species, can weigh between 900-1500 pounds and grow approximately 6-10 feet long! With all of these incredible physical traits, it’s no wonder that bears have proven themselves to be dominant predators in the wild.

There are eight different species of bear. North American black bears, brown bears, polar bears, Asiatic black bears (also known as moon bears due to the white, crescent-moon-shaped marking on their chests), Andean bears, panda bears, sloth bears, and sun bears. Each species is recognizable by its distinct size, markings, and characteristics. For example, sloth bears have adorable rounded ears, a cream-colored snout, and a unique "V" or "Y" shaped white mark on their chests.