Animal Facts
Brown Bear continued
Appearance
Brown Bears have large bodies covered in thick fur, and claws on their front paws up to 5 centimetres (2 inches) long.
These claws are non-retractable, meaning the bear can’t pull them in. They stick out from the fur around their feet.
They walk on all four feet, putting their heels down like humans do.
They also have a hump between their shoulders. This holds the muscles they use for digging out small burrowing animals and plants.
Although Brown Bears are called brown, their coats vary in colour from black to yellow, reddish and beige.
The Grizzly’s coat varies from tawny cinnamon to light brown or black. Silver tips on the fur give them “grizzled” look which is how they got their name.
Young Himalayan Brown Bears have a pale creamy brown coat with a white patch on their chest. Older bears are darker but often have white-tipped hairs. Their winter coat is long and fine and their claws are pale or even white. This colouring may be the reason they are also called Snow Bears.
The Syrian Brown Bear has a light, straw coloured coat with long grey-brown hair on its legs.
Brown Bear sizes also vary. Males can weigh 300 to 860 pounds (136 to 363 kilos) and females between 205 and 455 pounds (93 to 206 kilos).
Individual animals can weigh more or less depending on what food is available to them.