What Do Bears Eat: A Comprehensive Guide to Bear Diets

Bear diet overview: What do bears eat?

• Berries: A key component of what bears eat, consuming up to 30,000 berries a day in good years. Bears eat various types including blueberries, raspberries, chokecherries, and huckleberries
• Plants: The bear diet includes a wide variety of plant matter, such as bamboo (for giant pandas), grasses, roots, and leaves
• Insects: Some bear species, like sloth bears, heavily rely on termites and ants for up to 95% of their dietary energy during certain seasons
• Fish: An important food bears consume, particularly for some species like brown bears, especially during salmon runs
• Small mammals: Bears will opportunistically prey on small animals when available as part of their diet
• Nuts: In fall, foods bears consume include hazelnuts, acorns, and beechnuts

Seasonal variations in what bears eat

Spring and summer

• Bears emerge from hibernation and their diet focuses on easily digestible foods:
  • New plant growth
  • Insects
  • Small mammals

Fall (hyperphagia)

• Bears enter a state of hyperphagia, with their diet including up to 20,000 calories daily to prepare for winter
• The bear diet shifts to focus on high-calorie foods:
  • Berries
  • Nuts
  • Fish (for some species)

Digestive adaptations for the bear diet

• Bears have evolved to be low-protein macronutrient omnivores
• They have a simple gastrointestinal tract with a rapid digestion time (13 hours for meat, 7 hours for foliage)
• Their gut microbiome is dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria

What do different bear species eat?

Giant pandas

• Specialized bamboo feeders
• Prefer a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet

Sloth bears

• Primary foods bears consume include termites, ants, and fruits
• In captivity, their diet preferences include high-fat foods like avocados

Brown and black bears

• Highly adaptable omnivores with a varied diet
• Prefer high-fat, low-carbohydrate foods when given a choice

FAQ

What do bears eat in the wild?

Bears are omnivores and eat a diverse diet including berries, plants, insects, fish, and small mammals. Their diet varies seasonally, with a focus on easily digestible foods in spring and high-calorie foods in fall to prepare for hibernation.

How much do bears eat per day?

During hyperphagia in fall, bears can consume up to 20,000 calories daily. In berry season, they may eat up to 30,000 berries a day when food is plentiful.

What plants are part of a bear's diet?

The bear diet includes a wide variety of plant matter such as berries (blueberries, raspberries, chokecherries), grasses, roots, leaves, and bamboo for giant pandas. In fall, bears also consume nuts like hazelnuts, acorns, and beechnuts.

Do all bears eat the same foods?

No, different bear species have varied diets. For example, giant pandas specialize in bamboo, sloth bears primarily eat 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 rapid digestion time. They are low-protein macronutrient omnivores, and their gut microbiome is dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. This allows them to efficiently process the diverse foods bears consume in the wild.