European Brown Bear European Brown Bear (Ursus arctos arctos)

This is our female European Brown Bear, born in February 2011. She’s unnamed for now until we find a sponsor who will have the privilege of naming her. She is about 2 weeks younger than our other European Brown Bear, Tom. She came to us because she was born with underdeveloped organs due to a vitamin deficiency in the womb, and she also has some digestive problems. She is very small for her age and may be stunted for life. Our facility will supply her with all the nutrients she needs to grow into a happy, healthy adult. Our little bear is a budding actress – she has been featured on the Conan O’Brian Show, the Jimmy Kimmel Show, and Access Hollywood Live!

The European Brown Bear has brown fur, which can range from yellow- brownish to dark brown, red brown, and almost black in some cases; albinism has also been recorded. The fur is dense to varying degree and the hair can grow up to 4 inches in length. The shape of the head is normally quite round with relatively small, round ears, a wide skull and a mouth equipped with 42 teeth, including predatory teeth. It has a powerful bone structure, large paws, equipped with big claws, which can grow up to 4 inches in length. The weight varies depending on habitat and time of the year.

Brown Bears are not full hibernators; they enter a dormant state, and they can be awakened easily. They locate a den, such as a cave, crevice or hollow log, and stay their during the winter months while they are in dormancy.

During dormancy, cubs are born blind, hairless, toothless and they weigh less than 1 pound. They will feed on their mother’s milk until spring, when they will weigh about 15-20 pounds. The cubs will remain with their mother for 2-4 years.

European Brown bears were present in Britain until around 500 AD when they were exterminated through hunting. They were also used in Ancient Rome for fighting in arenas. Today they are found across northern Eurasia.

The European Brown Bear is a European Protected Species and it has protection throughout the European Union.