Why the Western Hemisphere Offers World-Class Bear Watching

A Guide to the Four Bears of the Western Hemisphere and Their Subspecies

Did you know that the Western hemisphere (North and South America) is home to four distinct bear species and five different subspecies? These amazing creatures can be found from the Arctic to the Amazon and from the high Rockies to the Everglades. Bears are surprisingly diverse in their habitats, diets, and characters - and so are bear fans! Some individual bears have more social media followers than the most popular Instagram influencers! What makes bears so irresistible?

Massive, ungainly, nearsighted, and with voracious appetites, they look a little like linebackers turned couch potatoes, bears not even especially beautiful – and yet, they are captivating, even graceful in their own way. Female bears are diligent and fiercely protective mothers to their playful cubs. And when we catch them scratching their back against a tree, their blissful expression makes us laugh in recognition of ourselves.

Intrigued by bears? Me too. The following is a guide to the Bears of the Western Hemisphere and the best places to view them. Bonus: You’ll find each of the four bear species in some of the most beautiful and wild places left in the Western Hemisphere! Let’s go see bears! This is how.

The Four Bears of the Western Hemisphere

Four of our eight modern bear species live in the western hemisphere. North America is home to three: Black, Brown, and Polar, each unique in their own way.

The fourth bear of the Western Hemisphere is the little-known, shy, and endangered Andean or Spectacled Bear, the rarest bear in the Western Hemisphere and the only bear native to South America.

Looking for the best bear-watching destinations in North America and South America? From the Arctic ice to the Andean cloud forests, the Western Hemisphere offers incredible bear viewing opportunities. Whether you're interested in grizzly bear tours in Alaska, black bear watching in Yellowstone, polar bear expeditions to Churchill, or tracking spectacled bears in Colombia—a guided bear watching wildlife tour across the Americas will deliver once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ask us.

Each of our four bear “chapters” will provide a description, conservation status, their fascinating subspecies, and the very best places to watch and enjoy these special bears, but first, a fast status overview.

Bear Conservation and Challenges in the Western Hemisphere

Although each bear species has its own preferred habitat, diet, and disposition, certain threats impact all four species.

Habitat Loss and Degradation
from development, including resource extraction (mining, drilling, and clear-cut forestry, and human encroachment. A side effect of habitat loss is fragmented populations, “Islands” of populations that can lead to genetic isolation, increased inbreeding, and disease vulnerability.

Human-wildlife conflict near livestock and communities.
Many conflicts arise from feeding (either directly or accidentally) and can be controlled if humans were more aware and responsible for their actions.

Bears are near-sighted, shy creatures, likely to melt into the forest when their heightened senses of smell or hearing alert them to your presence - but they are voracious, indiscriminate eaters. Our leftovers, trash, bird seed, and dog food are culinary delights for a bear. And bears can rapidly become aggressive (and dangerous) when startled, with cubs, or separated from food they want (including yours)

There is a saying, “a fed bear is a dead bear.” Bears habituated to human food often must be euthanized.

Climate Change:
None of the four bear species can escape the effects of climate change, and its impacts are exacerbating all the other threats. Entire ecosystems that the bears and others depend on are changing, including the availability of food and water sources. Some species are adapting, while others, like the polar bear, may not be able to.

Trophy hunting,
Still permitted in some jurisdictions, trophy hunting is a threat in some of the last bear strongholds. In the lower 48 states, brown bears are remain on the Endangered Species list, but there is mounting pressure to remove them. In Alaska, they can be, and are, hunted.

Brown, Polar, and Andean Bears Each Face Particular Threats:

In Mulchatna, Alaska, the Department of Fish and Game is indiscriminately shooting Kodiak (Brown) bears from helicopters in an effort to bring back caribou herds. Unfortunately, independent studies have proven that the caribou are dying of disease (brucellosis) and starvation, not bear predation. The lichen they feed on is disappearing as the climate warms. Bears and wolves are being blamed.

In the Arctic, Polar Bears are drowning: As sea ice diminishes and ice-free periods lengthen, the bears’ fasting periods are more extended, and hunting opportunities for their primary prey, seals, diminish. The bears swim farther out to sea in search of seals, increasing the risk of drowning.

Additionally, Polar Bears have New Competition from Brown bears: Studies have shown that the warming climate is bringing the more aggressive Brown bears north, displacing Polar bears when they overlap.

Andean bears face a particular additional threat: They are still hunted for their gall bladders and paws for traditional medicine

A Guide to the Western Hemisphere’s Bears and The Ultimate Places To Watch Them

The quest to see the Western hemisphere’s four bear species, not to mention their fascinating subspecies, will take us to some of the most remote and magnificent areas on earth.

Although each of the Western Hemisphere’s four bear species has their own unique characteristics, habitats, and conservation challenges, certain characteristics are shared by all. It helps to know them if we are going to explore the best places to watch bears in the wild.

Just remember, the western hemisphere’s bears are stronger, faster, and cleverer than they look, and most have notoriously little patience for disturbance. Approaching a bear in the wild - especially by accident - could result in a very bad day. Always follow Bear Watching Best practices - and your guide’s instructions.

The American Black Bear - The Adaptable Survivor

Ursus americanus IUNC: LC (Least Concern)
The American black bear represents a conservation success story, with populations recovered in many areas after historic declines. From New Jersey to California, black bears can be found in 40 of the 50 US States and all provinces of Canada except Prince Edward Island.

Other Names and Subspecies:

Black bear. The Cinnamon Bear Ursus americanus cinnamomum, Kermode or Spirit Bear (Ursus americanus kermodei)

Why Black Bears are Special:

Black bears are found only in North America and are the smallest of the continent's three bear species (Black, brown, and Polar), but they are among the continent's most successful large mammals, with stable populations across much of their historic range.

https://bear.org/bear-facts/black-bear-range/

How to Identify and Understand Black Bears

Color: American “Black” bears come in various colors, including black, brown, cinnamon, and even white (the rare Spirit Bear).

Height to Shoulder: 24 and 36 inches ( 61-91.5 cm ). Nose to tail: 60 to 75 inches (152.4 to 190.5 cm)

ID Key: Black bears do not have a shoulder hump like brown bears.

Weight: A Black bear’s weight is dictated by their regional food supplies and varies considerably across their range. Adult males typically weigh between 200 and 600 pounds (91-272 kg), although individuals weighing 800+ pounds (363 kg) have been documented. Females usually 100-200 pounds (45.5 -91kg)

Life Span: 20-30 years in the wild. Sexual maturity is reached between 3 and 5 years or longer, depending on resource availability.

Black Bear Diet: Black bears are omnivorous, despite their “Carnivore” classification, with 85% of their diet consisting of plant matter. Berries, nuts, grasses, roots, insects (hornet larvae, tent caterpillars, march fly larvae, grubs, and other insects), fish, and occasionally small mammals are all on the Black Bear. Dietary flexibility is key to their success – and their problems.

Black Bear Claw Fun Fact:

The “design” of Black bear claws is similar to feline claws and is perfectly structured for climbing. Cubs have been clocked scurrying up a tree at about 3 feet per second.

Best Places and Times to See American Black Bears

Today, Black bears can be found in 40 of our 50 states. These are the best places to watch them.

Prince of Wales Island, Alaska (July-September)

My favorite place to see Black bears is Prince of Wales Island. We think of Brown bears fishing, but on Prince of Wales Island, Black bears gather at salmon streams to feast on spawning fish, offering incredible viewing and photography opportunities.

Don’t miss the viewing platforms at Dog Salmon Fish Pass and the Cable Creek Fish Pass, where you can watch (and photograph) from safety as the bears splash, catch, and feast on fresh salmon. I spent hours there one August day watching and photographing fish jump up the ladders and bears jump after the fish. Note: There are berry bushes along the trail to the platforms. Make noise when using the trails - you do not want to startle a bear having “desert” after his fish meal.

Best Time to See Black Bears on Prince of Wales Island: July through September

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (April-October)

Yellowstone National Park is one of the few places where you can see both Black and Grizzly bears. Each season in the Park offers unique opportunities for bear watching.

Best Time to See Black Bears in Yellowstone National Park:
Spring (April-May): Early spring is when bears emerge from winter hibernation with their adorable COY or cubs of the year!

Summer (June-August): The best time to see them is at dawn and dusk, when they feed on berries and insects.

Fall (September-October): This is the “Hyperphagia” period—when bears feed intensively to prepare for hibernation

Back in the 1960’s, feeding bears on the road from car windows was a popular activity. It also made the habituated and continuously hungry bears aggressive and dangerous. Today, feeding the bears is not allowed and can result in your permanent ban from the Park.

The Best Places to look for Black Bears in Yellowstone National Park are the Tower-Roosevelt area. This place is sometimes referred to as The Bermuda Triangle. The bears are used to people watching and are not hesitant to stay close to the road, great for picture taking! And look up high into the trees, you may see a cub or two watching you!

Look for black bears and grizzlies, too, at Dunraven Pass, about 19 miles (an hour’s drive over winding mountain roads) from Tower-Roosevelt, where the bears come especially for the Whitebark Pine’s pine nuts. You should find the Grizzlies on the ground, while the nimbler Black bears will be mostly up in the trees.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Year-round, best April-November)

Home to approximately 1,500 black bears, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has one of the densest black bear populations in North America. The Park spans the border of two states, Tennessee and North Carolina – and so do the bears; however, those in the know head to Cades Cove. Careful! You and the bears share the same paths.

The Best Time to See Black Bears at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is April-November, but you can find them here all year.

Cinnamon Black bears

Cinnamon bears are a lighter reddish-brown or cinnamon-colored morph of the Black Bear and are mostly found in the western US, but may be wherever Black bears are found. Black bears and Cinnamon bears can have cubs of both color variations, although the lighter color is more rare.

Black Bear Sub-Species:

The Spirit Bear (Kermode Bear) (September through October)

Ursus americanus kermodei. Not IUNC separately rated, but it is considered the rarest of all bears and is found in only one place, in the temperate rainforests of coastal British Columbia, Canada.

This rare and storied white or cream-colored subspecies of the American black bear moves like a spirit through the dense Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia and holds deep cultural significance for Indigenous peoples. According to legend, the Creator made one of every 10 black bears white to remind the people of the ice age.

Spirit bears are believed to have extraordinary powers to lead humans to magic places – and indeed, those who have seen a Spirit Bear say the experience is unforgettable.

The bears’ white coloration is caused by a recessive gene, not albinism; only about 10% of Kermode bears exhibit white coats.

Best Place and Time to See Spirit Bears:

The Great Bear Rainforest, along the central and northern coasts of British Columbia, Canada, on both the mainland and two islands (also part of the GBR), Princess Royal Island and Gribbell Island, British Columbia.

Spirit bears inhabit the forests alongside much larger Grizzlies and tend to stay in areas where brown bears do not go, such as smaller streams on the islands in the archipelago.

The Best time to see Spirit Bears isAugust-October during salmon runs. Look for them after the rains begin, when spawning salmon travel up the refreshed streams.

Seeing Spirit bears is not the best solo endeavour; a good, experienced guide will increase your chances of seeing these rare animals and enhance your understanding of them and their unique rainforest world.

Brown Bear – The Powerful Omnivore

Ursus arctos IUNC: Least Concern globally; but declining. In some regions, Brown Bears are considered “Threatened” and “Endangered.” Many local bown bear populations face threats of extirpation.

North American brown populations have declined dramatically from historic levels, with about 55,000 in Alaska and Canada. Fewer than 2,000 remain across the lower 48 United States, and are concentrated in Montana, Wyoming, and Washington, with a few in Idaho.

In Alaska, the Mulchatna bears in Wood-Tikchik State Park, only 100 miles from Katmai and their world-famous fat bears, are under attack from the State. In 2022, 200 bears were gunned down from helicopters; in 2023, 99 bears were gunned down, including 20 cubs; in 2024, 81 were killed in one month.

Other Names and Subspecies:

Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) is the North American interior population subspecies.

Kodiak Bear Ursus arctos middendorffi – Kodiak Island, Alaska subspecies)

Why Brown Bears are Special

The powerful, second-largest terrestrial carnivores on Earth, are so charismatic that some Brown Bear individuals have become world famous!

What bear lover doesn’t remember the legendary Queen of the Tetons, 399, or Felicia, another of the “roadside mamas?” And who has not been fascinated by Alaska’s enormous Kodiak “Fat Bears”? These bears of the Grand Tetons and Alaska have passionate fans worldwide.

Despite their fearsome reputation, brown bears are intelligent, generally avoid humans, and spend much of their time grazing peacefully on vegetation.

GRIZZLY RANGE MAP Lisa Landenburger, USGS - Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team. Public domain. Sources: IUCN, M. Proctor, Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team. https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2021-04-02/timeline-a-history-of-grizzly-bear-recovery-in-the-lower-48-states

How to Identify and Understand Brown Bears

Brown Verses Black Bears - What’s the Difference?

Brown bears are significantly larger than Black Bears, outweighing them by hundreds of pounds! Their distinctive shoulder hump—a mass of muscle that powers their digging ability and contributes to their immense strength- makes Brown Bears easily identifiable. And you will not find a Brown bear climbing a tree, like their Black Bear cousins. Brown bears keep their feet firmly on the ground.

Color: Brown bear coloring can range from black to blond, but most are brown. The coat of brown bears in the continental US is silver-tipped or “grizzled,” hence the name of the subspecies.

Height to Shoulder ranges from 3.5 feet (107 cm) up to 6 feet(183 cm) for Kodiak bears. And when on two legs, Kodiaks, the largest Brown bear, can reach an impressive 10 feet tall (305 cm)!

Weight: Adult males (interior populations) weigh between 400 (181.5 kg) and 800 pounds (363 kg), while coastal populations weigh between 600 (272 kg) and 1,400 pounds (635 kg). The famous Alaskan Kodiak bear’s weight can exceed 1,500 pounds (680 kg)!

Lifespan: A Brown bear’s lifespan can reach 20-25 years in the wild. Males reach maturity at about 5.5 years, while females reach maturity at about 3.5 years. Read about 399, one of the most famous and long-producing Brown bears in history!

Brown Bear Diet: True omnivores with remarkably varied diets, Brown bears eat grasses, sedges, roots, berries, pine nuts, insects (especially moths and army cutworm moths), fish, squirrels, elk and moose calves, and carrion.

The Brown bears living on the coasts of Alaska and Canada have access to abundant salmon, and grow significantly larger than interior populations (See Kodiak bears)

Brown Bear Claw Fun Fact:

The massive Brown bear claw (4 inches / 10.2 cm!) is straighter than that of Ursus americanus and is built for digging. They toss aside boulders, excavate burrows of prey animals and edible plants and tubers, and in Alaska, Katmai bears have been documented first digging up, then delicately opening a clam down the center of the valve.

Best Places and Times to See Brown Bears

Brown Bear can be found across Eurasia and North America. In the Western hemisphere, they historically ranged across the western United States, into California, and Mexico, and from coastal Alaska (note: extirpated from Prince of Wales Island in the 1930’s) and Canada through the northern Rocky Mountains.

Admiralty Island, Alaska, the “Fortress of the Bear”

Situated southwest of Juneau in Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago, Admiralty Island has possibly the world’s highest concentration of Brown Bear, the native Tlingit called the island, Kootznoowoo or Fortress of the Bears.” Although only 96 miles long and 30 miles at its widest point, Admiralty Island is home to an estimated 1,600 brown bears and 5,000 bald eagles, making it an unforgettable wildlife-viewing destination.

Bears outnumber people here, and bear tourism in the best-viewing areas is by permit only. Here you want a local guide

Best time to See Brown bears on Admiralty Island: July through September

Brown Bear Subspecies

Kodiak Bears

Existing only on the Kodiak Archipelago, which includes Kodiak Island and the surrounding islands of Afognak, Shuyak, Raspberry, Uganik, Sitkalidak, and others, in Alaska, Kodiak Bears (Ursus arctos middendorffi) are the largest of all the Brown bear species, rivaling Polar bears in size and weight.

An abundance of fat- and nutrient-rich salmon in their coastal habitat is thought to be the reason for their enormous size. The bears’ single-minded concentration on “fishing” renders them almost (but not completely!) oblivious to their also gorging compatriots and eager wildlife watchers, making for excellent Kodiak watching – and photography! Live cams bring the Katmai bears right to you.

Tip: Don’t miss Fat Bear Week and Contest! Follow the competition. Vote!

Started in 2015, over 1 billion (yes, billion!) people from over 100 countries participate through webcams and personal visits!

Conservation

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, there are only about 3500 Kodiak bears. The bears are protected, and their populations are monitored, although hunting is allowed under strict guidelines.

Katmai National Forest

The most famous and fabulous place to see Kodiak bears be in all their huge glory is Alaska’s **Katmai National Park, (June-September)**

Brooks Falls, Katmai, Alaska (July):** Peak salmon run—watch bears catch leaping sockeye salmon Tip: Don’t miss Fat Bear Week! Follow the competition. Vote!

- **Lower River (September):** Bears fish for spawning salmon in calmer waters

- Accessible via floatplane, with viewing platforms offering safe, close encounters

https://www.fws.gov/species/kodiak-brown-bear-ursus-arctos-middendorffi

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=brownbear.trivia

https://explore.org/livecams/brown-bears/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls

Best Places and Times To See Kodiak and Coastal Bears

Grizzly Bears Urus Arctos horriblis

Aside from their silver-tipped hair, factors of geographic location and diet help define grizzly bears as a subspecies. Grizzlies usually live in the interior, not coastal regions, so while brown and Kodiak bears thrive on an abundance of easily accessible salmon, grizzly bears spend more time seeking out and competing for small mammals and plants.

Grizzly bears are smaller and more aggressive than the gigantic Coastal brown and Kodiak bears, characteristics generally attributed to factors of food type and availability.

The Best Places and Times to See Grizzly Bears

**Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (April-November)**

Home to the famous Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly population, these bears gained worldwide acclaim for their unusual cub-raising technique. Females bring cubs to the roadside where aggressive males will not go, using tourism to protect the young from aggressive male bears (boars), who would otherwise seek them out and kill them to bring the mothers back into estrus.

The ”roadside” mama bears and their adorable cubs make Grand Teton National Park one of the best places in the world for viewing grizzly bears.

Human-habituated bears also pose additional hazards. Visitors to Grand Teton should be particularly bear-aware. Stay in your car when watching bears, carry bear spray, never feed bears, or leave food remnants behind, and follow all wildlife-viewing guidelines. The grizzlies here embody the challenges of coexistence in areas where human development borders critical wildlife habitat.

**Yellowstone National Park (April-November)**

- Hayden and Lamar Valleys for spring and fall viewing

- Mount Washburn area for berry feeding in late summer

### Polar Bear (*Ursus maritimus*) – The Arctic Ice Hunter

**Other Names:** Nanook or Nanuq (Inuit), Sea Bear, Ice Bear

**Why They're Special:**

Polar bears, the world's largest land carnivores, are classified as marine mammals, as they are almost dependent on the ocean and sea ice for survival. Polar bears are also the most carnivorous bear; the Polar bear’s diet consists almost entirely of seals, although they occasionally consume kelp, fish, walrus, or narwhals, and human trash.

https://en.visitsvalbard.com/visitor-information/polar-bears

Remarkable adaptations include water-repellent fur, partially webbed paws for swimming, and the ability to detect seals through three feet of ice.

**Conservation Status:** Vulnerable

Polar bears face an uncertain future due to rapid Arctic sea-ice loss driven by climate change. Scientists predict significant population declines (30-50%) by mid-century if current warming trends continue. Hudson Bay populations have already decreased by 27% from 2016 to 2021 (the last survey available) and by 40% between 2001 and 2010, and continue to decline. Polar Bear International estimates that about 26,000 remain in 20 locations worldwide.

**Distribution:** Circumpolar Arctic, across 20 recognized subpopulations spanning Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Found exclusively in the Arctic region.

**Description:**

Color: White appearing fur (it is actually pigment-free) with black skin beneath (for heat absorption). They have elongated bodies, long necks adapted for hunting underwater, and massive paws up to 12 inches across that serve as snowshoes and paddles.

Height to Shoulder. Polar bears are the largest bear species, measuring 36 – 54 inches (91.4 – 137.16 cm)

Weight: Adult males 900-1,600 pounds (some exceed 1,700 pounds).

Females weigh 330-550 pounds.

Lifespan:** 25-30 years in the wild. Maturity at 4-6 years for females, 6 to 10 years for males

**Diet:**

Highly specialized carnivores, Polar bears primarily eat ringed and bearded seals. They hunt by waiting at breathing holes or breaking into seal dens. During ice-free periods when hunting is impossible, they rely on fat reserves or opportunistically scavenge. Some populations supplement with bird eggs, vegetation, and marine mammals.

Polar Bear Claw Fun Facts – these Paws were made for walking!

Polar bear claws are shorter, sharper, and thicker than brown bear claws. Their curved shape is perfect for gripping ice and snow. Wide paws (up to 12 inches across) and flat feet are made for carrying them over distances of up to 12 miles a day. Satellite telemetry data shows they can travel 695 miles / 11119 km in a single year! The huge paws are also helpful for open-ocean swimming, while their hind legs serve as a rudder.

https://wwf.ca/stories/paws-claws-polar-bear-foundations/

**Best Places and Times to See Polar Bears:**

**Churchill, Manitoba, Canada (October-November)**

- **called” The Polar Bear Capital of the World**

- Prime viewing from specialized tundra buggies

- Bears congregate along the Hudson Bay coast, waiting for ice formation

- Seasonal movement in accordance with sea ice development brings exceptional photography opportunities

- Town-based tours with excellent infrastructure

**Conservation Note: A local responsible Polar Bear watching industry in Churchill, demonstrates the economic value of living polar bears while supporting local communities and conservation efforts.

**Svalbard, Norway (June-August via expedition cruises)**

Small ships are the best way to try your luck at viewing polar bears and enjoying the spectacular landscapes at this archipelago north of Scandinavia in the Arctic Ocean. Or spend some time on land in the city of Longyearbyen and enjoy a silent hybrid catamaran tour, or an overland “snowcat” expedition. The annual Jazz Festival in February is a must-see during the long Arctic night! It’s an environmentally certified event.

https://en.visitsvalbard.com/whats-on/polarjazz-festival-p2521283

### Spectacled Bear (*Tremarctos ornatus*) – The Cloud Forest Wanderer

**Other Names:** Andean Bear, Mountain Bear, Ukuku (Quechua) and of course, they are the model for the famous Paddington Bear!

https://www.bbcearth.com/news/the-real-life-paddington-bear

**Why They're Special:**

The spectacled bear is South America's only bear species and the last surviving member of the short-faced bear subfamily (Tremarctinae). Their distinctive facial markings (giving them their "spectacled" name) are unique to each individual, like human fingerprints.

Little is known about these mysterious bears that inhabit some of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems—Andean cloud forests and páramo grasslands. Today, they are being studied in Chingaza National Park, Colombia, aided by local people who are allowed to keep and stay on their family land when the park was created.

These locals help to protect and monitor the bears and are an integral part of international Andean bear studies.

Andean or Spectacled Bear Fun facts:

Their scientific name, Tremarctos ornatus, means decorated bear.

An Andean or Spectacled bear will sit for days in a tree waiting for its fruit to ripen!

https://www.bbcearth.com/news/the-real-life-paddington-bear

Scientists believe that the Andean bear may use more vocalizations than any other bear, except the Giant panda, including a shrill screech and a soft purr.

https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/andean-spectacled-bear

**Conservation Status:** Vulnerable (VU)

Andean or Spectacled bears are very reclusive and challenging to see and study in the wild. And the data is conflicting. The WWF estimates only 6,000-10,000 individuals remain in the wild across fragmented populations.

Among many threats, Spectacled bears face habitat loss and degradation due to human encroachment, legal and illegal crop cultivation, forest clearing, mining, and petroleum exploration. All these factors also contribute to human-wildlife conflict and illegal hunting.

https://www.bbcearth.com/news/the-real-life-paddington-bear

**Description:**

Color: Their black or dark brown fur and distinctive cream or white markings around their eyes give Spectacled bears their name, though not all individuals have the eye markings. They possess powerful front limbs and long claws for climbing.

Height: between 34 and 81 inches (88 to 206 cm) long and are 2 to 3 feet (61to 91.5 cm) tall at the shoulder.

Weight: The Spectacled is a medium-sized bear weighing (according to the International Association for Bear Research and Management) 74 to 386 pounds (34 to 175 kilos). Females are about half the size of males.

The gentle creatures are mostly vegetarian, with meat (small rodents, birds, and insects) making up only about 5% of their diet. They prefer fruit, berries, and cacti. They will also use their strong jaws and flat molars to grind the tough, fibrous parts of plants, such as bromeliad hearts, orchid bulbs, and tree bark.

**Lifespan:** 20-25 years in the wild and reach sexual maturity at between 4 to 7 years.

**Distribution:** Andes Mountains from western Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to northern Argentina. Found at elevations from 600-14,750 feet, primarily in cloud forests and páramo ecosystems.

**Greatest Threats:**

- **Habitat destruction** from agriculture, cattle ranching, and development

- **Human-wildlife conflict** over livestock predation (though largely unproven)

- **Illegal hunting** for traditional medicine and gallbladders

- **Climate change** threatening montane habitats

- **Road development** fragmenting already isolated populations

**Diet:**

Predominantly vegetarian (95%+ plant matter): Andean bears eat bromeliads, orchids, cacti, palm hearts, berries, and bamboo. They are excellent tree climbers who build feeding platforms high off the ground. Occasionally, Andean bears eat insects, small mammals, and carrion. Some individuals develop a taste for livestock, which can lead to human conflict.

**Best Places and Times to See Spectacled Bears:**

**Chingaza National Park, Colombia (Year-round, best December-March)**

This is a high-altitude páramo ecosystem about an hour outside of Bogotá. The rare Andean Bear is not the only endangered, threatened, or extremely rare species in the Colombian Páramo. There we may find the huge Andean condor floating high above the mountains or a tiny Green-bearded Helmetcrest hummingbird flitting among hardy flowers. And look for the endangered Carrikeri Harlequin frog.

The trail systems are good here, but you will need a good guide - these bears, shy and scarce, are studied here.

- Dry season offers better accessibility

**Chaparri Ecological Reserve, Peru (May-October)**

Puru’s first legal private reserve is dedicated as a habitat for endangered species, including the Andean bear.

The reserve is a partnership between a wildlife photographer, Heinz Plenge, and the local Muchik campesino community of Santa Catalina de Chongoyape.

Recued, unreleasable individuals offer good viewing opportunities.

**Manu National Park, Peru (May-October)**

Located in Southwest Puru, the 1.716,295-hectare / 4,241,057 acres reserve protects the meeting point of the tropical Andes and the Amazon basin.

Spectacled Bears are found at mid-to-high elevations in the cloud forest zones.

The Spectacled bears are only one of the species found in this remote, incredibly biodiverse park, A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1977

The Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve, Equador

This private 15,000-acre reserve high in the cloud forest, about 2. 5 hours northeast of Quito, offers “guaranteed” sightings of the shy Spectacled bears from a viewing platform as they forage the reserve's thousands of “aquacatillo” trees, a wild relative of the avocado.

https://southwild.com/ecuador/spectacled-bear-guaranteed/

Conclusion

The bears of the Western Hemisphere are fascinating to watch and wonderful, charismatic subjects for the camera. But more than that, they are vital parts of delicate ecosystems. They protect forests and farmers by consuming huge quantities of harmful insects; they are important seed dispersal agents, and help keep ungulate herds alert and healthy by predating the weak or sick and dining on carrion. Fish-eating bears fertilize the forest by dragging fish carcasses far from riverbanks. These big, lumbering creatures help make the Earth a healthier environment for us all.