The spectacled bear is the only species of bear that lives in the Southern Hemisphere. They are also the smallest species of bear, with females only weighing 180 pounds at maturity and males reaching 340 pounds. They are named for the yellowish rings around their eyes.Know More
Spectacled bears are the only surviving members of the short-faced bear family. This family of bear species used to roam across North and South America during the last Ice Age.
Only one type of bear lives in the rainforest and this bear is known as the spectacled bear, or the Andean bear. It lives in several areas of South America.Full Answer >
The world’s largest known bear from an existing species was an 11-foot-tall male polar bear that weighed 2,200 pounds, as Discovery News reported in February 2011. The largest recorded bear from an extinct species was at least 11 feet tall and weighed 3,500 pounds, according to National Geographic News.Full Answer >
In most cases, the best thing to do after encountering a bear in the wild is to back away slowly while talking in a calm yet firm voice. In a developed area like a backyard or campground, the bear can usually be frightened away by loud noises. On public land, notify the park rangers if a bear enters a developed site.Full Answer >
Practice bear safety by avoiding bears, staying calm, not running and being "human." Understanding bear behavior can help both bears and humans survive encounters in the wild.Full Answer >