Brown Bear

Bears are often associated with north America, Canada, Alaska and the Arctic, but the Brown Bear is the most widespread member of the family and is found in pockets in Europe, Asia and North America. Once thriving throughout Europe, today it is estimated that around 14,000 animals remain, mostly limited to the forests of Scandinaiva, Romania, Russia and Serbia.

The species ranges in colour from black to blonde/ beige and contrary to popular belief, the name actually derives from a very old middle English word, ‘bruin’, simply meaning ‘bear’

Brown Bears can grow up to well over 500kg and 3m in height when upright, but the majority of animals remaining in the forests of central Europe are smaller, with an average weight of around 120kg.

European Bears are omnivores and feed on a variety of berries, roots and fungi as well as fish, insects, and small mammals where available. Due to availability of food at different times of the year, most European brown bears derive up to 90% of their diet from vegetable sources.

A female will usually give birth to two to four cubs, which are approximately 23 to 28 centimeters long and weigh 340 to 680 grams. The young are suckled by the mother in her winter den until April or May, when they emerge to follow her in search of food. The cubs will usually stay with the mother for one to two years until they are able to fend for themselves.

Unlike North America, there are hardly any dangerous encounters between people and brown bears in Europe. However, they are increasingly found crossing in to human settlements to scavenge for an easy meal.

Group Tours

Alaska Wildlife Tour
See the largest concentration of Brown Bears in the world.
Brown Bear Safari
View wild brown bears from a customised hide in the Swedish wilderness.
Grizzlies and Wildlife Tour of British Columbia
Small group tour to one of Canada's Grizzly Bear hot-spots!