Wildlife Guide · North America & South America
Bear
Family Ursidae — 8 living species across North America, South America, Europe and Asia
The eight bears of the world — from polar ice to Andean cloud forest, all under pressure.
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In brief
Bears are eight living species in the family Ursidae across North America, South America, Europe and Asia; conservation status ranges from abundant (American black bear) to Vulnerable (polar bear, sun bear) to dependent on intensive protection (giant panda).
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
Bears are large mammals of the family Ursidae — eight living species across four continents. From the polar bear on Arctic ice to the spectacled bear in Andean cloud forest, bears occupy an extraordinary range of habitats. All are omnivorous generalists with keen smell, non-retractable claws and the ability to enter winter torpor. Conservation status varies: American black bears number over 800,000; polar bears are Vulnerable to climate change; sun bears and Asiatic black bears face bile farming and habitat loss; the giant panda became a global conservation icon. This guide covers bears as a family; see WARN's sun bear guide for Southeast Asian bear welfare and bile farming.
8
Living bear species worldwide
800,000+
American black bears in North America
Vulnerable
Polar bear, sun bear, sloth bear IUCN status
Appendix I/II
CITES listing for most bear species
Figures sourced from IUCN Red List — Ursidae assessments, IUCN Bear Specialist Group, CITES — Checklist of CITES Species .
Bear: Quick Facts
| Species | 8 living bear species |
|---|---|
| Range | North America, South America, Europe, Asia |
| Diet | Omnivorous — varies by species and season |
| Largest | Polar bear — up to 800 kg |
| Smallest | Sun bear — 25–65 kg |
| CITES | Appendix I or II for most species |
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Ursidae |
| Species | 8 living species across 5 genera |
Conservation Status
- IUCN Status
- Varies by species. Polar bear, sun bear, sloth bear Vulnerable. Giant panda Vulnerable after recovery. American black bear Least Concern.
- Population
- Varies — black bear 800,000+; polar bear 22,000–31,000; sun bear declining
- Trend
- Decreasing for polar bear, sun bear, sloth bear; increasing for black bear and panda
- Assessed
- Varies by species
- CITES
- Appendix I or II for most bear species
See WARN sun bear guide for Helarctos malayanus — distinct from this generic bear hub.
Key Facts: Bear
- Eight bear species survive across four continents — the most widespread carnivore family.
- All bears are omnivorous generalists with excellent smell and non-retractable claws.
- Polar bears depend on sea ice; climate change is their primary threat.
- Sun bears and Asiatic black bears suffer in the bile farming industry across Asia.
- American black bears number over 800,000 — a conservation success in North America.
- The giant panda recovery from Endangered to Vulnerable is a flagship conservation achievement.
Eight bears across four continents
The family Ursidae contains eight species. North America holds the American black bear, grizzly (brown) bear and polar bear. South America has the spectacled (Andean) bear — the only bear on the continent. Europe and Asia share the brown bear and the Asiatic black bear (moon bear). Asia also holds the sloth bear of India, the sun bear of Southeast Asia and the giant panda of China. The brown bear has the widest range of any bear — from the Arctic to Turkey — with the largest populations in Russia, Alaska and Canada. Each species occupies a distinct ecological niche shaped by habitat and diet.
Ecology, diet and denning
Bears are omnivorous generalists. Polar bears hunt seals on sea ice; brown bears catch salmon, graze berries and dig for roots; black bears raid beehives and scavenge carrion; pandas eat almost exclusively bamboo; sun bears tear open tropical trees for honey and insects. All bears except polar bears (and some tropical species) enter winter torpor — a state of reduced metabolism in dens. Pregnant females give birth during torpor, nursing cubs for months before emerging. Bear intelligence is well documented: tool use, long-term memory of food sources and problem-solving in human-modified landscapes.
Bile farming and the bear trade
Asiatic black bears and sun bears suffer in the bear bile industry — caged for years and milked for bile used in traditional medicine. Bear bile contains ursodeoxycholic acid, a compound with real pharmaceutical applications, but synthetic alternatives have existed since the 1950s. Bear bile farming is legal only in China; Vietnam banned extraction in 2005. Sun bear cubs are taken from the wild for the pet trade. CITES Appendix I protects most bear species from commercial international trade. WARN's moon bear and sun bear appeals support rescue and sanctuary care for bile farm survivors.
Conservation across species
Bear conservation varies dramatically by species. American black bears recovered to over 800,000 through regulated hunting and forest regrowth. Giant pandas moved from Endangered to Vulnerable after decades of habitat protection and captive breeding. Polar bears face existential threat from Arctic sea ice loss. Spectacled bears are Vulnerable as Andean forest is cleared. Sloth bears are Vulnerable from habitat loss and human conflict. Coexistence strategies — bear-proof bins, electric fencing, compensation schemes — reduce conflict worldwide. This guide introduces the bear family; see WARN's sun bear, Andean bear and species-specific guides for detail.
What WARN Does
WARN funds sun bear and moon bear rescue in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam — countries where bile farming and the pet trade threaten Asian bears. This bear guide is free public education about all eight species and the welfare crisis facing bears in Asia.
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.
Bear: Frequently Asked Questions
How many bear species are there?
Which bear is the largest?
Are bears endangered?
What is bear bile farming?
Where do bears live?
What do bears eat?
Are bears dangerous?
How long do bears live?
How big is a bear?
Sources & References
Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.
Related Rescue Guides
Focused answers for people searching how bear rescue works in high-need regions.
Terms used on this page
Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.
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