How many distinct bear species are there?
The World’s Eight (8) Bear Species
1- North American Black Bear (Ursus Americanus): Kermode or Spirit bear, colors: black, bluish-black, brown, and white. The most prevalent bear in North America is the North American Black Bear, which may be found from Florida north through Canada and up to Alaska. It is typical for black bears to go through a black and brown-color phase. Northwestern British Columbia, Canada, is where the white color phase is more uncommon to appear. The black bear eats everything. Their diet consists primarily of plant materials. About 8 years old is when males achieve their adult size. In the boreal forest parts of Ontario, females mate and give birth to cubs from 5 to 7 years of age, and at 8 years and older. Males may weigh up to 280 kg (600 lbs), and sometimes even more. In the wild, black bears can live up to 25 years. Although older bears have been seen, human activity (hunting) prevents the bulk of bears from living beyond old age.
2- Ursus Arctos, the brown bear many subspecies. Alaska, western Canada, and portions of Washington, Montana, and Wyoming are all home to brown bears. Small individual populations can be found all across Asia and portions of Europe. Brown bears are presently seen in good numbers in Russia. Brown bears can be almost-black, brown, or extremely light brown or blonde in hue. Size varies significantly based on region and the availability of food in general. The biggest bears, known as “Big Browns,” can reach sizes that are comparable to Polar Bears off the coasts of Alaska and Russia. The inner bears of Europe’s highlands and the North American Rocky highlands (Grizzly Bears) are often significantly smaller. Bears that weigh 1500 pounds (700 kilograms) or more are currently extremely rare.