Animals & Tracks

The brown bear - the big brown one

The brown bear is our largest predator on the Norwegian mainland. The largest male bears can reach up to 350 kg, but bears that size are rare.The brown bear is a pronounced…

Created: May 30, 2022 9:56 AM

Ursus arctos

Height: 70 - 130 cm

Weight: 100 - 300 kg

The brown bear is our largest predator on the Norwegian mainland. The largest male bears can reach up to 350 kg, but bears that size are rare.The brown bear is a pronounced omnivore, and lives off most of what it can find in nature. Ants are an important food, as are grass, herbs and bilberry. The bear may eat some of the carrion it finds - but can also hunt for itself. It is especially easy prey, such as small moose calves, that it hunts.

Eating a lot is important for the bear. It has to put on weight for a long winter in the den. The den can be dug out in an abandoned anthill, a hillside slope - and sometimes just straight down into the ground. The females are more particular than the male bears about the den. This is because they give birth to their young there during the winter.

The bear is afraid of people, and will run off if it senses us coming close. Even so, many are nervous about meeting a bear.

What if you meet a bear?

If you meet a bear against all odds, you need not be afraid. This is typically a bear that has not yet noticed you. Normally you will not have time to react before the bear notices you and disappears in the opposite direction. If the bear does not notice you, you can talk a little to the bear, and make human noises. ‘Hello there, bear. Human here.’ You can also make yourself a little smaller and back away apologetically. Think of how you would react if you accidentally walked in on an occupied toilet! ‘Oh, oh! Excuse me!’ you would say, while backing away!

It is all about making sure the animal knows you are there, and that you pose no threat. Then it can feel safe enough to turn its back on you and run off!

Next steps

Learn more