Giant Panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca Native to the mountain forests of southwest China, the giant panda is one of the most beloved animals in the world. Giant pandas are identified by their distinctive black and white coloring. Their ears, muzzle, eyes, shoulders, and legs are black while the rest of their body is white. Their thick hair keeps them warm in the cool, wet mountain zones. When on all fours, giant...

Grizzly bears are majestic symbols of the wild. Bears live in and use a variety of habitat types, playing important roles in each one. This makes them an “umbrella species,” meaning that when we protect them and their habitat we also protect many species. Grizzly bears can also help ecosystems by distributing seeds and nutrients through their scat, and occasionally regulating ungulate populations. © Harry Bosen Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos...

SYMBOLISM OF THE BEAR The primary meaning of the bear spirit animal is strength and confidence Standing against adversity; taking action and leadership The spirit of the bear indicates it’s time for healing or using healing abilities to help self or others The bear medicine emphasizes the importance of solitude, quiet time, rest The spirit of the bear provides strong grounding forces THE BEAR’S CHARACTERISTICS The spirit of the bear is...

Who Are You My Fluffy Bear All bears are carnivores but in practice, they are opportunistic omnivores, with large portions of plant matter included in their diets. They are believed to have evolved 30-38 million years ago from ancestors that are believed to have been a dog or raccoons like in size and shape. Order  Carnivora Suborder  Caniformia Family  Ursidae The ability of early bears to adapt to a variety...