Life of Bears

Bears are a great representation of nature’s power. Anyone who enters their territory respects them and fears them at the same time. Nowadays, bears can be found in woods and tundras across the world. They are mainly found in Asia, Europe, and North and South America. There may have been a lot more bear species, but there are currently just eight. Six of these eight species are either at risk or endangered. Bears can live up to 25 years in the wild and 50 years in captivity. Bears have short tail non-retractable claws, and a strong sense of smell.  

Apart from moms with cubs, they’re usually alone. There eight different species are giant pandas, brown bears, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears, sun bears, black bears, and black bears from North America. Even though all bears are omnivores and enjoy the taste of honey, each species has a favorite diet. Seals are the main food source for polar bears. When available, American black bears enjoy eating berries and bug larvae, while giant pandas prefer to eat bamboo but will occasionally consume small animals. Sloth bears, despite their name, are strongly quick eaters. They can tear a hole in a termite mound, insert their noses inside, and swallow an entire meal in a matter of seconds. In Alaska, brown bears eat salmon, snatching them out of the water or grabbing them as they jump.  

Loss of habitat, mostly as a result of mining, farming, and expanding human populations, is one of the largest dangers to all bear species. Due to habitat loss, bears have less space to hunt and come into touch with people more frequently, which can result in human-wildlife conflict. Bears are killed because they become a threat to human safety or because they have attacked crops, etc… Bears are an interesting species, which is why we should continue taking care of the environment so we don’t lose these amazing creatures in the future. 

A bear was seen on home surveillance video roaming through the Isles of Oasis community off Pacific Drive, providing evidence that bears can be found in Miami. There always have been bears wandering the streets, mainly scaring people.  At the Zoo Miami, many captive bears can be visited and photographed safely. Come visit!