(Ursus arctos) The brown bear is a forest-dwelling animal, living in the boreal forest areas of northern Europe, Asia, and North America, where it is called the grizzly bear in some areas. The Swedish bear population of a few thousand animals is slowly increasing despite a general hunting of the species. The bear is a plantigrade, meaning that it walks on the whole sole of the foot, just like humans do.
| Belongs to: |
Order Carnivora (carnivores/predators) |
| Family: |
Bears (Ursidae). |
| Weight: |
Up to 350 kg (males in Sweden), up to 160 kg (females in Sweden). |
| Lifespan: |
20 - 30 years |
| Mating season: |
Mating season typically occurs in May-June. |
| Gestation period: |
The gestation period for bears is around 7-8 months, but the actual fetal development is only 2-3 months, due to a phenomenon called delayed implantation. |
| Cubs: |
1-3 cubs (sometimes 4 or 5) are usually born in January during the winter hibernation. |
