We have all seen bears, whether in a zoo, a sanctuary, or on television. They are mighty, strong, and also one of the most popular mammals. As per science, the family they belong to is ‘Ursidae’. Although there are about eight species of bears in the world, most of them have similar features. Claws, powerful nose, tiny tails, etc. Bears are omnivores and are generally 5 to 8 feet in height. The weight varies from species to species, but the most a bear usually weighs is 1,600 pounds (726 kilograms).

Bears are famous for hibernating in the winter to survive. Their fat level helps them do so with ease. They go months without eating anything. It is also during winter in most cases that female bears give birth to their cubs.

Bears have a varied diet choice. For instance, few species of bears (like the American black bears) love to survive on fruits. They also consume insects. While others (like Polar bears) prefer seals.

Some of the species of bears are black bear, brown bear, polar bear, panda bear, Andean bear, sloth bear, etc.

Let us now continue to see the average age of bears, according to their species.

How Long Do Bears Live?

As mentioned above, there are about eight different species of bears. Although their basic characteristics are similar, the habitat they live in is not. The climate and weather of the particular regions they stay in have a huge impact on their diet, body, and age.

Generally, bears tend to live up to 25 years of age. It may seem less, considering most of the species live in forests or greenery. But, their lifestyle and body are the primary reasons behind it. Other reasons include the constant endangering of few species, due to natural reasons. Exploitation by humans is also a self-explanatory reason.

Let’s learn more about some of the most common species of bears:

  1. Brown bear: usually seen in Europe, Asia, and the USA, these bears live up to 20-25 years. Although different in color, they are similar in size to Polar bears.
  2. Black bear: you can find these bears often in the Northern region of America. They are also found in Canada and Alaska. They reach maturity up to 6-7 years of age. These bears have a longer life in comparison to others.
  3. Asiatic bears: these bears are most often black or dark in color, due to the climate of Asia. They are fierce, mighty, and to the most extent carnivorous. These bears are seen mostly in the forests of India and Eastern Asia. These bears do not hibernate unless they are in the northern region.
  4. Polar bears: these bears are the largest and can even weigh more than the average weight of a bear. This is because of the climate and the sort of food they eat. They need to stay warm and have thick layers of fat.
  5. Panda bears: these bears are popular around the world and also most often seen on television. They feed on bamboo and migrate often.

 

So, these were some of the different species of bears and some information about them. While most bears live up to 25-26 of age, some live longer while most die early. One should note that most bears are on the brink of extinction. It should be our responsibility to protect such beautiful creatures.