The Bear Facts
Black bears,
polar bears, and
grizzly bears are members of the
carnivora order, but they are omnivores.
Most of the black bear's diet consists of plants. In the summer months it eats grasses, herbs, sedges, fruits, berries, and nuts. It also eats
insects. Black bears don't hunt for meat, but if they happen to come across
carrion (a dead animal) they will eat it.
The grizzly bear eats berries, roots, fungi, grasses, fish, carrion, small mammals, and insects. Unlike the black bear, the grizzly bear is a hunter. It is very good at catching fish and often uses its long claws to dig insects out of rotting logs and small mammals out of their burrows. Some grizzly bears in the Canadian Rockies hunt larger animals like
moose, elk, and goats.
The primary food source for the polar bear is seals. It also eats fish, seabirds, and sometimes,
caribou. In the summer, it also eats berries and other plant parts.
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What did you have to eat today? If you are like most humans, you probably had meat and plants! Humans are omnivores too! Our teeth are designed to eat both meat and plants. Our front teeth help us rip into meat and bite into fruits and vegetables. Our molars help us grind up meat and chew fruits and vegetables. Many omnivorous animals also have teeth that help them eat both plants and animals. )
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