All articles tagged with #brown bear
New CT scans show the Ushikawa bones thought to be ancient humans are actually brown bear remains, pushing Japan’s oldest mainland human fossils to about 14,000–17,000 years ago (with Ryukyu Islands finds possibly around 32,000 years). The study, published in Anthropological Science and led by Tokyo researchers, demonstrates how modern imaging can correct past misidentifications and reshape our view of Japan’s prehistoric timeline.
Two US Army soldiers were injured during a land-navigation training exercise in Arctic Valley near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, after encountering a brown bear. They used pepper spray and are receiving medical care; conditions have not been released. The incident is under investigation, the base area is closed to recreational activity, and Alaska Fish and Game says the bear appeared to defend itself after emerging from a den.
A 29-year-old Alaska hunter developed a severe finger infection after skinning a brown bear. Weeks of inconclusive tests culminated in DNA sequencing identifying Mycoplasma phocimorsus as the seal finger pathogen, marking the first brown-bear–associated case. The bacterium is hard to culture and may resist standard antibiotics, requiring targeted treatment such as doxycycline. The patient recovered after surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotics; health officials advise wearing protective gloves when handling marine-environment game and pursuing prompt treatment for suspicious infections.
Scientists discovered a perfectly preserved 3,460-year-old brown bear in Siberia's permafrost, providing unique insights into ancient wildlife, including soft tissues and diet, challenging initial assumptions that it was an Ice Age cave bear.
Chunk, a brown bear over 500kg who overcame a broken jaw, won Fat Bear Week 2025 at Alaska's Katmai National Park, demonstrating resilience and adaptability as voters worldwide celebrated his success and spirit.
A wildlife photographer in Lithuania captured a surprising image of a brown bear using a trail camera, indicating the species' possible return to the area after being considered extinct locally, which highlights the importance of conservation and ecosystem health.
A man in his 20s was attacked and dragged away by a brown bear on Mount Rausu in Hokkaido, Japan, and remains missing. The incident occurred at about 550 meters altitude, prompting a helicopter search and mountain access restrictions. The area has seen increased bear activity, with reports of bears approaching hikers closely and following people despite deterrents. This follows a recent fatal bear attack in southern Hokkaido and ongoing reports of wildlife-related issues in the region.
Members of the Seattle Kraken hockey team, while fly fishing in Alaska, had a close encounter with a charging brown bear that charged at their mascot, Buoy the sea troll, but the bear veered away. The team was on a community engagement trip in Katmai National Park, and the incident was captured on video, highlighting the bears' interest in the mascot.
A woman from Belarus died in Slovakia after being chased by a bear while walking with a male companion in the Low Tatras mountain range. The woman's body was found below a ravine, and it is believed she fell to her death while being chased by the bear. The companion was unharmed. This incident comes amid a rise in bear attacks in the region, with Slovakia experiencing a fatal attack in 2021, the first in over a century. The country's Carpathian mountains are known for their brown bear population, with Slovakia having the second-highest concentration after Romania.
The shooting of an endangered brown bear near an Italian national park has caused outrage in Italy, leaving her two cubs motherless. The bear, nicknamed Amarena, was a prolific brown bear in the Abruzzo region and was often observed by local residents. The man who shot the bear claimed self-defense, but authorities are investigating the incident as a possible case of animal killing. The marsican brown bear is at an elevated risk of extinction, and efforts are underway to protect the cubs and shed light on the incident. The killing has sparked criticism from environmentalists and animal rights advocates, who see it as a grave crime against wildlife.
The shooting of an endangered brown bear near an Italian national park has caused outrage in Italy, leaving her two cubs motherless. The bear, nicknamed Amarena, was a beloved resident of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise. The man who shot the bear claimed self-defense, but prosecutors are investigating a possible charge of animal killing. The marsican brown bear is at an elevated risk of extinction, and efforts are underway to protect the cubs. Animal rights advocates and Italy's environment minister have condemned the killing, highlighting the ongoing conflict between bears and humans in the country.
A 34-year-old hunter survived a brown bear attack while rabbit hunting in Alaska over the weekend. The bear, a female with cubs, was fatally shot by the hunter in self-defense. Alaska is home to more than 50% of remaining North American brown bears, also known as grizzly bears. The animals are omnivorous, eating a mixed diet of plants, berries, fish, and small mammals. Brown bears in Alaska can eat 80 to 90 pounds of food per day in the summer and fall, which helps them pack on roughly three to six pounds of fat each day as they prepare for winter hibernation.
An administrative court in Italy's Alpine region has suspended an order to euthanize a brown bear that killed a runner last month. The court requested more details about the attack and set a hearing for December 14 to decide whether to transfer the bear to a refuge. Animal rights groups had challenged the order to kill the bear, and the runner's family opposes euthanasia. The bear's parents were brought to Italy from Slovenia two decades ago to increase the brown bear population.
An administrative court in Italy's Alpine region has suspended an order by local authorities to euthanize a brown bear, identified as Jj4, who fatally attacked a runner last month. The court panel requested more details about the dynamics of the attack and concluded that more details from the autopsy of the runner were needed before any decision comes on the bear’s fate. A hearing was set for Dec. 14 to decide the merits of animal rights advocates' proposals to transfer the bear to a refuge where the animal wouldn't be a danger to humans.
A brown bear that killed a runner in northern Italy has been captured by authorities and her three cubs were freed unharmed. The bear, identified as Jj4, was ordered to be euthanized by Trento provincial authorities but animal rights groups appealed to an administrative court, which suspended the order. The bear was born to two bears brought to Italy from Slovenia two decades ago as part of an EU-funded program to repopulate the brown bear population that had been dwindling to the point of near extinction. The population has rebounded to more than 100 identified bears, according to Italian news reports, and is increasingly having encounters with the human population.