Bears have a diverse diet that includes berries, plants, insects, fishAnd small mammals. The bears are omnivorousand what bears eat varies with the seasons. Bears consume up to 20,000 calories per day in the fall to prepare for winter hibernation. Understanding what bears eat is crucial to wildlife management and conservation efforts.
Bear Diet Overview: What Do Bears Eat?
- Berries: A key part of what bears eat, consuming up to 30,000 berries per day in good years. Bears eat different kinds, including blueberries, raspberries, chokecherriesAnd blueberries
- Plants: The diet of bears includes a wide variety of plant materials, such as bamboo (for giant pandas), grasses, rootsAnd leaves
- Insects: Some bear species, such as sloth bears, rely heavily termites And ants for up to 95% of their food energy during certain seasons
- Fish: An important food consumed by bears, in particular for certain species such as brown bears, notably during salmon runs.
- Small mammals: Bears opportunistically prey on small animals when they are available as part of their diet.
- Nut: In the fall, foods eaten by bears include hazelnuts, acornsAnd beechnuts
Seasonal variations in what bears eat
Spring and summer
- Bears come out of hibernation and their diet focuses on easily digestible foods:
- Growth of new plants
- Insects
- Small mammals
Falling (hyperphagia)
- Bears enter a state of hyperphagia and their diet includes up to 20,000 calories per day to prepare for winter
- The bears’ diet now focuses on high-calorie foods:
- Berries
- Nut
- Fish (for some species)
Digestive adaptations for bear diet
- Bears evolved to be omnivores low in protein and macronutrients
- They have a simple gastrointestinal tract with a fast digestion time (13 hours for meat, 7 hours for foliage)
- Their gut microbiome is dominated by Firmicutes And Proteobacteria
What do different species of bears eat?
Giant pandas
- Specialized bamboo feeders
- Prefer one high in carbohydrates, low in protein diet
Lazy bear
- The main foods eaten by bears include termites, antsAnd fruits
- In captivity, their dietary preferences include high in fat foods like avocados
Brown and black bears
- Highly adaptable omnivores with a varied diet
- Prefer high in fat, low carb foods when given a choice
FAQs
What do bears eat in the wild?
Bears are omnivores and have a diverse diet including berries, plants, insects, fish and small mammals. Their diet varies seasonally, emphasizing easily digestible foods in the spring and high-calorie foods in the fall to prepare for hibernation.
How much do bears eat per day?
During the fall binge, bears can consume up to 20,000 calories per day. During berry season, they can eat up to 30,000 berries per day when food is plentiful.
What plants are in a bear’s diet?
The bears’ diet includes a wide variety of plant materials such as berries (blueberries, raspberries, chokecherries), grasses, roots, leaves, and bamboo for giant pandas. In the fall, bears also eat nuts such as hazelnuts, acorns and beechnuts.
Do all bears eat the same food?
No, different bear species have a diverse diet. For example, giant pandas specialize in bamboo, sloth bears feed primarily on termites and ants, while brown and black bears are highly adaptable omnivores with a more diverse diet.
How do bears digest their food?
Bears have a simple gastrointestinal tract with a fast digestion time. They are omnivores of low-protein macronutrients and their gut microbiome is dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. This allows them to efficiently process the diverse foods that bears consume in the wild.