Brown Bear: Facts, Habitat & Diet

« The brown bear is one of the world’s largest land predators »

A carnivore by nature and genetics…

…with an omnivorous diet

The brown bear is one of the world’s largest land predators. Among the eight bear species, the polar bear is the largest, reaching up to 2.5 metres in body length (from head to rump) and weighing as much as 800 kg. It is also the largest terrestrial member of the order Carnivora. The brown bear ranks just behind it.

In general, the colder the environment a bear species inhabits, the larger its body size tends to be.

Although the brown bear is classified as a carnivore based on its anatomy and genetics, its diet is actually omnivorous. It feeds mainly on grasses, mosses, roots and bulbs, while also eating mushrooms, insects, rodents and fish throughout the year. During summer, fruits, nuts, berries and tubers become an important part of its diet. Before hibernation, insect larvae provide a valuable source of protein.

Brown bear - ZooParc's extraordinary animals

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The bears are preparing for hibernation

They’ve dug their own den!

While our keepers prepare cosy winter dens filled with fresh straw, Beauval’s three female brown bears : Diablo, Drull and Delete are still enjoying the outdoors and following their natural instincts… by digging their own shelter! Watch the video to discover this fascinating stage in the annual life cycle of brown bears.

Humans remain their greatest threat

The greatest threat to the brown bear is people. The species itself is not currently considered globally threatened and is classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List. The worldwide brown bear population is estimated at between 180,000 and 200,000 individuals.

In 2025, the brown bear population in the French Pyrenees was estimated at 104 individuals, according to the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB). This encouraging increase is tempered by the population’s low genetic diversity due to the limited number of breeding animals. Additional reintroductions would help ensure the species’ long-term viability.

Coexistence between people and large predators remains challenging, as declining natural prey populations can lead bears to prey on livestock. In France, government-funded programmes help livestock owners protect their herds through preventive measures and deterrent equipment.

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Three sisters with a sweet tooth!

Diablo, Drull and Delete are three female brown bears born on 16 January 2017 at Lycksele Zoo in Sweden. Born in the same litter, they arrived at Beauval on 27 October 2018.

Curious yet naturally cautious, they are especially known for their playful personalities and their love of food. Their absolute favourite treat? Honey, without hesitation!

When they are not searching for tasty snacks, they enjoy cooling off in their pool, especially when their keepers have hidden treats in or around the water as enrichment.

Diablo is the easiest to recognise thanks to her lighter-coloured coat and is also the dominant bear of the trio. Delete and Drull both have darker fur, but can be distinguished by the shape of their heads, with Delete having the broader face.

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Learn more about the species

Range

North America, Asia, Europe

Diet

Omnivore
Gestation period

6 to 9 months
Litter size

1 to 3 cubs
Habitat

Wetlands, Arid environments, Forests, Mountains, Pastures

An excellent sense of smell, but poor eyesight

Brown bears communicate mainly through scent and vocalisations. They sometimes produce low moaning sounds while searching for food. They scratch and rub against trees and other objects to mark their territory and signal their reproductive status. Their sense of smell is exceptionally powerful and allows them to detect a carcass from as far as 3 kilometres away. Their hearing is comparable to that of humans, but their eyesight is relatively poor.

Winter births made possible by delayed implantation

The brown bear breeding season lasts from May to July, and both males and females may mate with several partners. Like all members of the bear family (Ursidae), brown bears exhibit a remarkable reproductive adaptation known as delayed implantation. After fertilisation, the embryo may remain dormant for several months before implanting in the uterus, sometimes up to five months later. As a result, cubs are born between January and March after only six to eight weeks of actual embryonic development. Although winter births may seem surprising, this strategy gives cubs the maximum amount of time to grow before the following winter. They remain safely sheltered with their mother until the end of hibernation. A litter usually consists of two or three cubs, each weighing around 500 grams at birth. They are weaned at about five months of age and become independent during their third year.

Revered, feared and legendary

Since prehistoric times, the brown bear has fascinated people. During the Palaeolithic period, it was revered and often regarded as a deity or even the “king of the animals” before gradually being replaced by the lion in European symbolism during the 12th century. The brown bear has inspired countless legends and even given its name to several European cities, including Berlin and Bern. Its image changed dramatically during the religious conflicts of the Middle Ages. During his conquest of Germania, Charlemagne discovered that the Saxons worshipped nature, and bears in particular. As part of his campaign to eradicate pagan beliefs, he launched a vast programme of Christianisation, accompanied by the large-scale killing of bears throughout the forests of Saxony and Thuringia. This period marked the beginning of the brown bear’s long-standing reputation as a feared and demonised animal.