Bears
The word bear comes from the old Proto-Germanic world beron which meant the brown one. The Latin Ursus is retained in the form of ursine refers to anything which is bear-like. A collective of bears is a sleuth.
Bears in Ireland
Bears in Asia and Europe date back to over 5 million years ago and remains have been found in County Leitrim. Some are displayed in the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre which is close to us here at Bear Essentials. Others can be seen in the National History Museum in Dublin.
Today Bears survive in climates as diverse as the tropics and the frozen Artic circle.
Generally speaking Bears are shy of humans but can be dangerous especially if they have young to protect.
Bears are said to “hibernate” during the winter months although their cubs are born during this period so, although they do not eat during this time, it is not a traditional hibernation.
Bears have been hunted down through the years, posing as they did, a huge challenge to mankind. However, due the decline in numbers worldwide, most Bears are protected by law today.
Watch Tobi the Red Panda
Brown bear (Ursus arctos) 
The most common of bears, the Brown Bear is to be found in Europe, North America, East Asia, Tibet, Siberia, Alaska and the Middle East.
The vary in size between 2 and 3.5 metres and up to 530kgs. The American grizzly bear is a sub-species of the Brown Bear.
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
Polar bears are mainly carnivores consuming walruses, seals, birds and fish. The polar bear weighing up to 650 kgs and can be as long as 3metres long.
Its dense fur protects it from the severe cold weather of the Arctic. Polar bears are protected but its habitat is in grave danger of erosion due to global warming.
Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus)
Smaller than its cousin the American Black Bear, the Asiatic Black Bear has a pale yellow v-shaped collar on his chest.
Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
This Bear lives in the Andes Mountains of South America and has light coloured fur around his eyes giving rise to its name the Spectacled Bear.
Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
The Giant panda of China is in grave danger of extinction; only 700 Pandas exist in the world today and there has not been a lot of success in breeding them in captivity. They are mainly vegetarian consuming up to 14kgs of bamboo shoots and leaves a day. They are shy creatures and can be quite dangerous.
Black bear (Ursus americanus)
The black bear can be found in the USA, Canada and Mexico where there are large populations of them. It is very similar in size to the Brown Bear with without the noticeable shoulder hump which distinguishes it from the grizzly.
Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
The sloth bear lives in India and Sri Lanka. It uses its long claws to climb trees to seek out insects and termites for food
Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
The Sun Bear can be found on the Malaysain peninsula and in southeast Asia as well as in Sumatra and Kalimantana. This smallest of bears lives in forests and is an excellent tree climber. It also lives on insects, termites and honey found in the trees but it also enjoys fruit and small animals.