Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Fact Sheet: Distribution & Habitat

(McLellan et al 2008)

Most widespread bear in the world.

• Europe
• Middle East
• Asia
• Western Canada and western U.S.

Historically, distribution much wider.

• In lower 48 U.S., original range reduced by 98% less than 100 years after arrival of Europeans. (Garshelis 2009)
• Local and regional extinctions (extirpations) occurred:
  • Northern Mexico (in 1960s) and much of southwestern U.S
  • California (last one shot 1922); still on flag as official state mammal
  • North Africa (in 1500s in Sinai Peninsula of Egypt; survived untill 1800s in Algeria & Morocco)
  • Extinct more than 500 years ago (Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Jordan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Tunisia, United Kingdom)
  • Extinct during last 500 years (Algeria, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Palestinian Territory Occupied, Portugal, San Marino, Switzerland)
• May be extinct in Syria & Bhutan.

Very small populations remain in Nepal & Iraq, French and Andorran Pyrenees Mountains.

Ranges of Polar and Grizzly Bears overlap in N. Canada, N. Alaska, and Chukotka, Russia

 Occupy a wide variety of habitats, more than any other bear species. (McLellan 2008)

• Dry asian steppes
• Arctic shrublands
• Temperate rain forests

Elevation range: sea level to 5,000 m (16,404 ft)

Habitat use by females with young differs from that of males. (Rode et al 2006)

• Females with young avoid areas where male bears hunt or fish;
• Females may frequent areas visited by humans rather than encounter male bears;
• Infanticide by males is the danger they try to avoid

Habitat use varies seasonally.

• Migrate to higher elevations as plant foods become available
• Shift to coastal areas and streams, when accessible, for salmon and other fish
• Move to lower elevations for early berry crops, when present; then move higher to follow ripening fruits

Brown Bear distribution.

Adapted from d.-maps.com according to IUCN fact sheet. Click here or on map for detailed distribution (IUCN).

McLellan et al (2008)
Pasitschniak-Arts (1993)
Rode et al (2006)