Bear Family
The ursine family is one less numerous than many may first think given the likes of the panda that lives deep within the misty bamboo valleys of eastern Valewyr, are oft referred to as 'panda bear'. In truth however, the ursine family, or to use its proper name, Ursus family, consists broadly of four distinct groups, one of which can perhaps be subdivided into two sub-branches. They are powerful predators, omnivorious in nature, with but one exception, the polar bear, which is an obligate carnivore. They are solo generalists and are generally a dominant apex predator in any region they happen to live. One would be well advised to not let their seemingly cute and docile furry look fool you. The smallest of this family can break bones with a swipe of their mighty paws, and crush skulls and crack all but the toughest armors with the sheer force of their bite. However one can be forgiven for not realizing the danger, because they are indeed very cute and seemingly cuddly looking creatures.
Montague Alvira Winston Esq, aka. Mochi.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Ursus family, though of a wide variety, share some key attributes and markers. They are quadrapedal, though capable of rearing up on their hind legs and fighting with their front in mighty swipes if needed. Their head structure is somewhate similar to that of canines, though of a bulkier finish with a much denser skull, more muscular structure. They are all bulky, muscular, and with thick coats of fur. Their claws are shovel like, bulky, powerful and sharp, good for ripping, digging and grip.
It is here the similarities end in most cases, as though they are all the same family, bears have evolved and adapted very specifically to fill different niches. Black bears, the smallest of the family, can climb trees and are absolute generalists within their diet, preying on the widest variety of game and eating the widest variety of various fruits, nuts, and other plants by far. They are also opportunistic, not opposed to scavenging carrion or even humanoid trash. Because of this they are the most common of the family, with the widest home range, finding success in almost any temperate environment you can think of.
Grizzlies, also known as brown bears, by comparison, are generally more carnivore leaning, tackling big game, scavenging far less, and are both more aggressive, and less generalist. Their hibernating requires them to eat a much higher calorie load in shorter time, and animal fats, particularly fish fats, are excellent for this. As such, though they are still omnivores and will eat fruits, nuts, or berries and wild vegetables, they hunt mostly mid to big size game, and live in a more limited region of temperate climates. Grizzly bears is the name given to those whom specialize more in large game such as elk and deer where Brown bears is a noted difference, and are known for living around riverlands where the yearly salmon run is where they get the majority of the food they'll need for hibernation. This difference is not wide enough to classify the pair as seperate species, but is notable enough behaviorally to at least mention.
Cave Bears are massive beasts that specialize in hunting and foraging admist the mountainous regions of the world. Despite their size and power, they are in some ways similar to black bears, willing to scavenge as well as hunt and forage. They are rare and given the difficulty of their environments, they are not well studied.
And last of all the Polar Bear is unique from its cousins in many ways. Its white coat of fur more of a hair like insulator, and is water proof, an important adaptation for the semi aquatic apex predator. It also has wider feet than its cousins, and a greater lung capacity by a large amount, two more important adaptations for this mighty predator. This tundra dwelling beast is an obligate carnivore, a master of hunting seal, walrus and elk. They generally won't scavenge, and also are not known to be picky, willing to eat fish, people, and smaller game as well if that's what they can take. Polar bears are the only member of the family that has been documented actively hunting humanoids, and given its obligate carnivore status, is undeniably an apex predator.
It is here the similarities end in most cases, as though they are all the same family, bears have evolved and adapted very specifically to fill different niches. Black bears, the smallest of the family, can climb trees and are absolute generalists within their diet, preying on the widest variety of game and eating the widest variety of various fruits, nuts, and other plants by far. They are also opportunistic, not opposed to scavenging carrion or even humanoid trash. Because of this they are the most common of the family, with the widest home range, finding success in almost any temperate environment you can think of.
Grizzlies, also known as brown bears, by comparison, are generally more carnivore leaning, tackling big game, scavenging far less, and are both more aggressive, and less generalist. Their hibernating requires them to eat a much higher calorie load in shorter time, and animal fats, particularly fish fats, are excellent for this. As such, though they are still omnivores and will eat fruits, nuts, or berries and wild vegetables, they hunt mostly mid to big size game, and live in a more limited region of temperate climates. Grizzly bears is the name given to those whom specialize more in large game such as elk and deer where Brown bears is a noted difference, and are known for living around riverlands where the yearly salmon run is where they get the majority of the food they'll need for hibernation. This difference is not wide enough to classify the pair as seperate species, but is notable enough behaviorally to at least mention.
Cave Bears are massive beasts that specialize in hunting and foraging admist the mountainous regions of the world. Despite their size and power, they are in some ways similar to black bears, willing to scavenge as well as hunt and forage. They are rare and given the difficulty of their environments, they are not well studied.
And last of all the Polar Bear is unique from its cousins in many ways. Its white coat of fur more of a hair like insulator, and is water proof, an important adaptation for the semi aquatic apex predator. It also has wider feet than its cousins, and a greater lung capacity by a large amount, two more important adaptations for this mighty predator. This tundra dwelling beast is an obligate carnivore, a master of hunting seal, walrus and elk. They generally won't scavenge, and also are not known to be picky, willing to eat fish, people, and smaller game as well if that's what they can take. Polar bears are the only member of the family that has been documented actively hunting humanoids, and given its obligate carnivore status, is undeniably an apex predator.
Genetics and Reproduction
Though the ages and mating seasons may vary based on subspecies, bears do reproduce similarly. Sows will reach sexual maturity sometime with the ages of 3 to 5 years. A litter of cubs will typically be two to three cubs, though can be as few as one and as many as five in some cases. Cubs are born more or less blind, opening their eyes after some twenty to forty days, and walking properly and capably at about five weeks. They are reliant on their mother's milk for about thirty weeks, and their mother's aid, care and hunting ability for sixteen to eighteen months before they'll break off to make their own way as subadults. This long period of child rearing means a sow that has cubs will not participate in the following mating season and will quite violently rebuff any male whom dares to approach her or enter her territory seeking copulation. This is due to the nature of male bears to be willing to take out cubs, specifically male cubs, driven by the instinctual desire to remove future competition.
Growth Rate & Stages
Bears reach the size and ability to survive alone, independant of their mother's aid and care after sixteen to eighteen months, and reach sexual maturity at about three years, reaching full growth after around five years or so. These rough numbers are similar across all bear species. Typically bears can live anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five years
Ecology and Habitats
Black bears and grizzly bears often share habitats, filling seperate niches in that environment and ecosystem. Both prefer temperate climates, preferring woodlands, hilly terrain, particularly around lakes and rivers.
Cave bears by comparison live amongst the temperate and cold mountain ranges, though again not much is known or well studied about these mighty beasts, due to the danger they pose and the danger their environment poses as well.
Finally Polar bears are only found in Suranth, the land of the tundra realms, and they rule the valleys, coastal regions and the pack ice itself, though some population follow inland the caribou and musk ox herds yearly as well.
Cave bears by comparison live amongst the temperate and cold mountain ranges, though again not much is known or well studied about these mighty beasts, due to the danger they pose and the danger their environment poses as well.
Finally Polar bears are only found in Suranth, the land of the tundra realms, and they rule the valleys, coastal regions and the pack ice itself, though some population follow inland the caribou and musk ox herds yearly as well.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Most bears are some varied degree of generalist omnivore, with polar bears marking the exception as generalist obligate carnivores. Black bears are the most generalist and adaptable of the members of this family however, seemingly able to eat just about anything and adapt well to changes in availability of any given food source.
By comparison grizzly bears and brown bears are adaptable to a limit, but rely heavily on the availability of larger game animals such as deer, elk and moose. Others still rely heavily on the yearly salmon runs that flood up particular rivers on the continent of Durol, and any heavy disruption of those would be catastrophic for them.
Cave bears are believed to rely heavily on the large game animals of the valleys, such as elk, caribou, and moose, as well as wild boar and mountain goat. Study into their dietary diversity is limited and has been difficult to accomplish.
Finally polar bears are the most specialized of the bunch, with bears in different regions more or less relying on a singular prey animal and its yearly appearance in massive numbers to provide the bulk of the fat that will sustain them for the year. For some it is walrus, for others seal. Others still it is musk oxen and caribou.
By comparison grizzly bears and brown bears are adaptable to a limit, but rely heavily on the availability of larger game animals such as deer, elk and moose. Others still rely heavily on the yearly salmon runs that flood up particular rivers on the continent of Durol, and any heavy disruption of those would be catastrophic for them.
Cave bears are believed to rely heavily on the large game animals of the valleys, such as elk, caribou, and moose, as well as wild boar and mountain goat. Study into their dietary diversity is limited and has been difficult to accomplish.
Finally polar bears are the most specialized of the bunch, with bears in different regions more or less relying on a singular prey animal and its yearly appearance in massive numbers to provide the bulk of the fat that will sustain them for the year. For some it is walrus, for others seal. Others still it is musk oxen and caribou.
Behaviour
Bears are generally seen as aggressive, violent killing machines, which is not the most fair description. They are powerful and forceful beasts, this is true. However in most cases, bears do not seek confrontation. Like any predator, they'd rather not fight, because if they were to get injured, that could be life threatening. A bear with a broken leg cannot hunt effectively and will likely starve or get very sick because it cannot acquire the necessary nutrients to heal properly.
As such, when bears do feel it necessary to defend themselves, they do so with sudden and overwhelming violence applied at a very rapid rate. The basic idea being to overwhelm the percieved threat and leave it unable to respond. However most bears will only do this is they feel like escape isn't an option, or if a mother feels her cubs are threatened.
The noted exceptions to this are Cave Bears and Polar bears which have both been well documented hunting, stalking and preying upon humanoids with enough regularity to have to acknowledge that they see us as just another animal, just another prey item. However they do not seem to favor that option and those sorts of incidents it is important to note the bears in question often looked half starved and were likely exceedingly desperate, as for an animal of the size and bulk of a cave bear or a polar bear, most people, regardless of species, would not be a very calorie efficent food source.
As such, when bears do feel it necessary to defend themselves, they do so with sudden and overwhelming violence applied at a very rapid rate. The basic idea being to overwhelm the percieved threat and leave it unable to respond. However most bears will only do this is they feel like escape isn't an option, or if a mother feels her cubs are threatened.
The noted exceptions to this are Cave Bears and Polar bears which have both been well documented hunting, stalking and preying upon humanoids with enough regularity to have to acknowledge that they see us as just another animal, just another prey item. However they do not seem to favor that option and those sorts of incidents it is important to note the bears in question often looked half starved and were likely exceedingly desperate, as for an animal of the size and bulk of a cave bear or a polar bear, most people, regardless of species, would not be a very calorie efficent food source.
Additional Information
Domestication
Though no large scale domestication exists or will ever likely exist, as bears are not social animals, the preferred types for large scale domestication, trained and 'domestic' bears of a fashion do exist. This tradition ties back to circuses of course, but also holds other roots. In both Depenwood and Raechin there is a heavy naturalist element within the national militaries, and notable numbers of scouts and hunter types and others have a black bear as a companion like some hunters might have a hound. Furthermore some have even trained their bear as a proper war mount, a terrifying prospect to envision.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Bear meat is a delicacy in Raechin and the heavy woodsman and survivalist culture in its rural areas ties into this. The pelts of bears make excellent heavy clothing and blankets as well, wonderful winter clothing. These are the main uses for such animals.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Bears have an excellent sense of smell, and a notably keen sense of hearing as well. Their eyesight might be their weakest sense, and even in saying that, they have better eyesight by and large than any humanoid by comparison. As solo predators they need sharp senses, that is a key part of insuring their success and survival.
Scientific Names
Ursus Arbori Vori: Black Bear Stat Sheet
Ursus Torvi Vani: Grizzly Bear Stat Sheet
Ursus Morit Verde: Cave Bear Stat Sheet
Ursus Glaci Vani: Polar Bear Stat Sheet
Geographic Distribution
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