Brown bear: The forest's big omnivore

The brown bear is the giant of the bear family and a resident of the forest that inspires both awe and caution. It looks heavy, yet it is agile and astonishingly strong. But you may not expect this: much of its menu is berries and nuts. Let's meet it.

Its body

On its shoulders sits a thick hump of muscle. That hump powers especially strong front limbs, perfect for digging, flipping rocks and tearing open rotting wood in search of food. Its nose is superb — a better sense of smell than a dog's — and its broad paws with strong claws are good for both walking and digging. Its coat ranges from pale to dark brown.

What it eats

The brown bear is an unfussy omnivore: berries, nuts, roots, insects, fish and small animals. When the salmon run, it waits by the river to fish. In autumn it eats non-stop, storing energy as fat for the long winter ahead.

How it spends the winter

As winter closes in, the brown bear retreats into a den to hibernate. Its heartbeat slows dramatically and it hardly eats or drinks, living off the fat stored in autumn. In spring, a mother bear emerges with the cubs born in the den, beginning another year of foraging.

A note for grown-ups

You could talk with a child about how even a giant loves fruit: a fierce-looking animal may eat quite differently from what we expect. Learning not to judge by appearance is an important lesson about animals — and about the world. When observing wild animals, always keep a safe distance.