Big bear stuffed animals require real commitment from their owner; with these large, oversized plush toys, if they're not quickly regarded as treasured members of the family, who knows what they might do. They can be a finicky bunch, these big bear stuffed animals, so make sure they receive far more attention (and for much longer) than any other toy.
Different species of bears can be found living in North America, Asia, and Europe. In South America, the only species found there is the spectacled bear. In Africa, bears could once be found in the north in the Atlas Mountains, but they are now all extinct. Australia also has no bears despite the fact that most people think Koalas are members of the bear family; koalas are marsupials, which means they are an animal with a pouch (like the kangaroo).
The American black bear is the most common of all bear species. On average they weigh about 300 pounds although some males clock in at 900 pounds. While black bears are mostly black, they can range in color from white to cinnamon to reddish brown. They are excellent tree-climbers and often do so to escape danger on the ground. At one time, they could be found living throughout the continent but now make their homes in mountain or wooded areas in Canada and the Rocky Mountains, South in the Appalachians, and in the Great Lakes region of the Adirondacks.
Through many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, brown bears can be found. There are different sub-species which make their home in North America and Eurasia. The coloring of the brown bear can range from light brown to almost black and they weigh anywhere from 500 to 1700 pounds. Like all bears, their main source of food is plant material like leaves and berries, but they are also know for their love of salmon which make their way up northern rivers to spawn. If the opportunity presents itself, they will also eat elk and moose.
The grizzly bear can be found living in the Rockies from Alaska to Colorado. Their coat is a brownish-yellow with distinct grizzled (or silver-tipped) outer hairs hence the name 'grizzly.' Adult male grizzlies can reach lengths of 8 feet and weigh as much as 500 pounds while females can weigh anywhere between 350 and 400 pounds. Unlike black bears, the grizzly can't climb trees.
The Kodiak bear, which can only be found off the coast of Alaska on Kodiak island, is a very large brown bear. In fact, they are bigger than the grizzly; they can stand up to 10 feet tall and weight up to 1,500 pounds. Like the grizzly, Kodiak bears love salmon and given they live in an area that is a spawning ground for the fish, they get plenty of it, catching up to 15 in an hour.
Like the Kodiak bear, polar bears can only be found living in specific regions in this case, near arctic waters. It's main food source is the seal but they will also feed on whale and walrus carcasses. Polar bears can grow to lengths of 11 feet and weigh as much as 1,600 pounds. They are excellent swimmers and use ice floes (broken pieces of ice) to travel and swim between. With webbing between their toes and broad paws that act like snowshoes, polar bears are adept both in the water and on land.
Like the different species of bear, big bear stuffed animals are a diverse lot. You can choose traditional colored bears such as brown, black, and white, or, you can go with something a little more over the top like a blue or pink bear. If your interest is to stick as close as possible to the real thing, your big bear stuffed animals should be the same type of coloring you would see [on a bear] in the wild.
Angeline Hope is a collector of teddy bear stuffed animals. You can view a selection of teddy bear stuffed animals at MyBigPlush.
