There are eight species of bear living around the world today, and many more in the fossil record. “Prehistoric” mummified bears have even been found preserved in permafrost thousands of years after they died. At Live Science, our expert writers and editors bring you the latest news, features and articles about bears, whether it’s American black bears evolving cinnamon-colored coats, the breeding habits of giant pandas, ferocious fights between grizzly bears, or mighty polar bears that are being forced to dine on “batteries and dirty nappies” because of climate change.
Discover more about bears
—Why aren’t there polar bears in Antarctica?
—Watch as 2 male Alaskan grizzly bears fight in an epic battle