Buzz
Bears have intrigued humans since their images were first etched on the walls of France’s Chauvet cave over 32,000 years ago. Even in modern times, medical professionals study bears and their hibernation patterns to uncover insights that could aid in recovering from medical trauma. They truly are some of the most fascinating creatures on Earth.
10. The Spirit Bear
Not all American black bears sport the classic black color. They come in an array of shades such as brown, cinnamon, and even blonde. In fact, on the West Coast, especially within California’s Yosemite National Park, bears with black fur are relatively rare. But it is only in British Columbia, Canada, that you can find the elusive 'spirit bear'—a black bear whose fur is almost entirely white.
The spirit bear holds a sacred place in the traditions of the Native American Tsimshian people, who refrained from hunting them and kept their locations secret from fur trappers who could have wiped out the already small population (now fewer than a thousand). Legend has it that there is only one spirit bear in captivity: an orphan named Clover, who resides at the British Columbia Wildlife Park.
9. Bear Meat
While most cultures avoid eating bear meat, there have been rare exceptions. In 2010, a peculiar event took place in Azerbaijan when Anar Mammadov, the son of a powerful official, drunkenly ordered that a restaurant’s dancing bear be slaughtered and cooked for himself and his friends. To dissuade him, the restaurant staff set an astronomical price of $1 million on the bear’s life, thinking the man would reconsider. However, Mammadov, whose family is worth hundreds of millions, showed no hesitation.
The next morning, Mammadov woke up with a severe hangover and an even more severe bill for his midnight feast. Without much thought, he ordered a helicopter to take him home.
8. Bear Wrestling
Not too long ago, bear wrestling was a common sight at carnivals and sporting events. These animals were typically muzzled and had their claws removed to reduce the risk of injury. Occasionally, a prize would be offered to anyone who could endure a certain amount of time without being pinned by the bear.
Bear wrestling is humorously depicted in the Will Ferrell film Semi-Pro. In 2008, Rocky, the five-year-old trained bear used in the film, tragically killed his trainer, Stephan Miller, by ripping out his throat in a seemingly unprovoked attack. Rocky was subdued by other trainers using pepper spray, but Miller was declared dead at the scene. The 39-year-old Miller had also served as Ferrell’s stunt double for the bear scenes in Semi-Pro.
7. African Bears
Bears can be found across the globe, yet they are notably absent from Africa, a continent renowned for its rich biodiversity. At one time, Africa was home to a subspecies of brown bear known as the Atlas bear, which roamed the northern regions, particularly in the Atlas Mountains. Though there are occasional unconfirmed reports of sightings, it is believed that the last Atlas bears were exterminated in the 1870s. The population of Atlas bears was likely decimated during the Roman Empire era, when thousands of animals were forced into combat in the Colosseum and other arenas. In Kenya, there are tales of the mysterious “Nandi bear,” a cryptid resembling America’s Sasquatch or the Himalayan Yeti.
6. Humans and Bears
There’s a good reason why bears aren’t seen on leashes in public parks: they don’t make good pets. Many of the trained bears featured in movies were provided by Doug Seus, who once owned Bart, a massive Kodiak bear weighing 1,500 pounds and standing 9 feet 6 inches tall. Bart appeared in 11 films before his passing, including The Great Outdoors, The Edge, and Legends of the Fall. Today, Seus’s new grizzly bears have made appearances in CSI and Game of Thrones.
While Doug Seus has had significant success working with such imposing animals, others have not been so fortunate. James “Grizzly” Adams, a mountain man and animal trainer, tragically died from wounds inflicted by a bear. Timothy Treadwell, a man of questionable sanity, spent 13 summers living among the grizzly bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park, until he ultimately pushed his luck too far and was killed.
5. The Bears of India
Possibly due to their coexistence with tigers, the sloth bear and Asian black bears of India are considered the most aggressive bears on Earth. While the sloth bear is primarily insectivorous, using its long, sharply curved claws to scoop up termites, it is also infamous for using them to tear apart people’s faces. In 1957, a particularly vicious sloth bear went on a rampage in the state of Mysore, killing at least 12 and injuring many others. Those who managed to survive often had their eyes torn out.
The Asian black bear has a similar reputation. They are especially aggressive in Kashmir, a disputed region in northern India near Pakistan. In 2009, four Muslim separatists who had sought refuge in a cave came face-to-face with a black bear. Despite being armed with AK-47 assault rifles, two of the men were killed and a third was injured. In May 2013, several bears launched attacks in villages in the state of Orissa, killing eight people before they were driven off.
4. Global Warming
Although the largest Kodiak bears in Alaska can compete with polar bears in size, the polar bear is generally the largest living species. As global warming melts the world’s ice caps, polar bears are being pushed into conflict with their southern relatives. If a fight were to break out, the polar bear might have the size advantage, but it is typically less aggressive (these social animals have even been seen playing with sled dogs). Grizzly bears, on the other hand, have massive claws and a muscular, humped back—an adaptation from digging for food, which grants them impressive upper body strength. Grizzlies have been known to crack a bison’s skull with a single swipe. When the two bears meet, often over a carcass, the polar bear usually backs down without a fight.
3. Teddy Bear
The tale of the teddy bear is familiar to nearly every American school child. President Theodore Roosevelt was on a bear hunt, but he couldn’t find any. His guide, however, captured a small cub and tied it to a tree. Outraged, Roosevelt refused to shoot the animal, solidifying his reputation as a man of compassion and principle. Political cartoons featuring the President and his bear became popular, and toymakers seized the opportunity, creating stuffed teddy bears that continue to be beloved to this day.
It’s a heartwarming story, but the reality is far less sweet. The Mississippi bear hunt of 1902 was a highly publicized event, attended by politicians, military leaders, and a group of journalists. Roosevelt had a point to prove: He was not only the youngest president in U.S. history, but he had inherited the position after his predecessor’s assassination, which led to doubts about his qualifications. His guide for the hunt was Holt Collier, an African-American who had killed thousands of bears in his lifetime.
Collier eventually cornered a large black bear that had killed one of his dogs. In an effort to save the bear for the President to shoot, Collier brutally beat it. By the time Roosevelt arrived, the bear was already on its last legs. A look into Theodore’s hunting history shows no sign of what we might call mercy, but Roosevelt was astute: With reporters following closely, he saw an opportunity to make an impression on the American public. He famously declined to shoot the dying bear, but after turning away, he ordered it be put out of its misery. One of the other men in the party ended the animal’s suffering with a knife.
2. Vodka Bears of Ukraine
In 2012, Ukraine hosted the UEFA Euro soccer championship, spending billions in preparation. Before the games and the influx of foreign visitors, Ukraine’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mykola Zlochevsky, realized a significant issue: In restaurants, bars, and hotels across the country, 'vodka bears'—bears intoxicated for the amusement of customers—were becoming quite the trend. While this inhumane practice might have gone unnoticed in the past, the press would certainly not let it slide. Facing immense pressure from animal rights groups like Greenpeace and PETA, Zlochevsky ordered that all vodka bears be released back into the wild before the games began.
1. Admiralty Island
Admiralty Island, located in Southeast Alaska near Juneau, spans over 4,100 square kilometers (1,600 sq mi) of untouched wilderness and is home to a vast array of wildlife. Despite the island’s breathtaking natural beauty, you might want to reconsider camping here: Admiralty Island is known for having the highest concentration of brown bears in North America, with approximately one bear per square mile. If you plan to explore the forests of Admiralty, it’s highly advisable to go with an experienced guide.
