Etymology The English word "bear" comes from Old English bera and belongs to a family of names for the bear in Germanic languages, such as Swedish björn, also used as a first name.

Nov 20, 2025 · Bear, any of eight species of large short-tailed carnivores found in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The sun bear is the smallest, often weighing less than 50 kg (110 pounds).

They can be as small as four feet long and about 60 pounds (the sun bear) to as big as eight feet long and more than a thousand pounds (the polar bear). They’re found throughout North …

Bear Evolution Early bears Bears are the youngest of the carnivore families, having arisen from doglike ancestors during the Eocene Epoch 55 million to 38 million years ago.

Dec 13, 2019 · From hibernation to their varied communication styles, the bears have fascinated humans since prehistoric times. Learn more bear facts.

Oct 26, 2021 · When trying to identify a bear, do not rely on color and size alone, as they can be misleading. Instead, use tracks and the physical appearance of a bear to determine whether it …

Description: The polar bear is not only the largest of the bear species, it is the largest terrestrial carnivore. Adult males weigh 880 to 1,500 pounds (400-682 kg.) and females are roughly half …

Bears (singular: bear) are a group of large mammals found all over the world in many different habitats. They form the family Ursidae, in the suborder Caniformia of the order Carnivora.

What is a bear - what family they belong to, what they are related to, where they live, are they carnivores, behavioral characteristics, pictures, and more.

While bears are not commonly encountered in Fairfax County, multiple bear sightings are reported in the county each spring and summer as bears wander into residential areas in search for food.