Brown Bear

Scientific name: Ursus arctos

Brown bears are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. These curious bears will eat anything that’s abundant and easy to obtain. Their varied diet includes berries, grass, nuts, fish, roots, moss, fungi, insects, mammals and dead animals. In coastal areas, salmon is a favorite food.

While most brown bears are brown, individuals can be cream, tan, red, almost black, bicolored, or grizzled with light streaks.

You Can Help!

“Room to roam” is important for Brown bears. Their natural habitat and range is large, and includes many other different species who depend on their ecosystem for survival. Habitat loss due to logging, mining, and road construction all threaten the existence of Brown bears. Wildlife land crossings across busy highways connect wildlife with their natural habitat range and prevent people from dangerous car accidents. There are wildlife land crossing projects all over the world, constructed to connect wildlife, prevent localized extinction, and create ecosystems by allowing large animals like bears and bobcats to safely cross busy roadways, but also our small mammal friends like voles, mice, and pika. Before your next visit, learn more about wildlife land crossings and attempts to bridge habitat together to save Brown bears, protect habitat, and provide safe travel for migratory animals. Visit Rocky Mountain Wild and the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University to learn more about successful wildlife land crossing projects!