And Even More Bear Facts (Facts 26 – 50)
26. Largest Bear Ever
Scientists discovered an ancient bear that weighed between 2,000 and 3,500 pounds. That is several times larger than polar bears!
27. Small Ears
Bear ears are small compared to their body size and are often covered in fur. This helps prevent them from getting cold. The downside is that bears don’t have good hearing.
28. Smell Over Sight
Bears rely on their keen sense of smell more than their eyesight. They use it to follow the scent of potential mates and their prey.
29. Bear Terms
Male bears are called “boars”, while females are called “sows”. Their babies are “cubs”. If you see a group of bears, then you can refer to them as a “sloth”.
30. What’s in a Name?
An 18th century explorer coined the term “polar bear”. Scientists also use the Latin “Ursus maritimus” (sea bear) and the Greek “Thalarctos” (bear of the Northern Sea).
31. Two Layers of Fur
Polar bears developed two layers of fur to survive the Arctic climate. The inner layer’s plush hair traps body heat. The outer layer adds insulation and repels cold water.
32. Polar Bears are Not White
Their fur is actually transparent up-close. The hair shafts have a clear hollow core that reflects visible light. The reflections make them seem white and help them blend in with the snowy environment.
33. Fat for Warmth
Polar bears swim in frigid waters to hunt and travel. Since wet fur is a poor insulator, they rely on body fat for warmth instead. This layer can be up to 11.4 cm thick.
34. Specialized Paws
With 30 cm paws, they can walk on thin ice without falling. They can also swim fast by using these as paddles. The two-inch claws help catch prey and add traction on ice.
35. Range and Population
Around 750,000 black bears are found in North America. They live in forests from the northern regions of Alaska and Canada, to the southern regions of Florida and Mexico.
36. Color Coat
Despite their name, black bears are not always black. Many of them have brown or blonde fur. A few have white fur, such as the Kermodes of coastal British Columbia.
37. Long Distance Swimmer
Although they mostly stay on land, black bears can swim in fresh water for at least a mile and a half. Some are known to swim over nine miles.
38. Winter Dens
Black bears create winter dens at the base of hollow trees, under the snow, or inside rock crevices. In warmer regions, they may stay high up on trees. They scratch the bark off for soft bedding material.
39. Life Cycle
Cubs grow quickly with most weighing 80 lbs by their first year. They will stick with their mothers for around 18 months or until she is ready to mate again. Adult bears lead solitary lives.
40. Belly Holes
Alaskan brown bears lay down to rest after feeding. To stay comfortable despite their large bellies, they make it a point to dig belly holes. Bigger bellies get deeper holes!
41. Food Intake
Brown bears can eat up to 90 lbs of food each day from summer to fall, enabling them to gain 6 lbs of fat daily. This is in preparation for winter hibernation.
42. Brown Bear Distinction
Brown bears range in color from black to blonde. What sets them apart from black bears is their prominent shoulder hump, dish-shaped face, and longer claws.
43. Naming Origin
The scientific name for brown bears is Ursus arctos. This is actually redundant since both words mean “bear”. “Ursus” is Latin while “arctos” is the Greek form.
44. Bear Cubs
Mating happens throughout the fall. Embryos only develop after females enter their winter den. After eight weeks, cubs are born tiny and lightweight at under half a pound.
45. Southern Bears
Nearly all bear species live in the Northern Hemisphere. The only exception is the spectacled bear. This can be found across the Andes Mountains in South America, ranging from Venezuela to Argentina.
46. Eye Rings
Their name comes from the distinctive light-colored rings around their eyes that look like big eyeglasses. Each one has a facial marking that is unique like a human fingerprint.
47. Shy Introverts
Spectacled bears are extremely shy. They would rather stay in isolated cloud forests and climb 14,000 feet high to avoid contact, only coming down to search for food.
48. Night Bears
They are active at night, harvesting fruits, cacti, berries, and honey. They may climb trees and wait for fruits to ripen for days. Only 5% of their diet is meat including birds, rodents, and insects.
49. Pop Culture Fame
The most well-known spectacled bear is Paddington, the creation of children’s author Michael Bond. The first book was published in 1958. It has evolved into TV shows and feature films.
50. Natural Air Filter
Humans wear face masks to prevent the inhalation of unwanted particles. Sloth bears deal with this by closing the nostrils on their own. This is useful in blocking dust while raiding termite nests.
DO NOT GO TO THE POSTED CORDS. YOU WILL NOT FIND THE CACHE THERE. YOU NEED TO SOLVE FOR THE CORRECT CORDS.
Please remember you are in Greene County, PA and satellite service is not the best. So, plan accordingly to have a good caching experience.
****Please be cautious when doing these caches as they are hidden along busy highways. Caches are kid friendly but hides are not necessarily kid friendly. Caution is highly suggested. ****
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