Zoo database

Brown bear

Ursus arctos

Natural diet Brown bear

The brown bear is an omnivorous species with a very diverse diet. For example, they feed on mammals and fish but also plants, berries and more are consumed. Food intake increases during spring/summer months to accumulate enough fat because of hibernation during the winter period.

Fish
Fish
Grain / seeds
Grain / seeds
Grasses
Grasses
Insects
Insects
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Leaves
Leaves
Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice Brown bear

Feed quantity per day

18%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 250 kg and eats 18% of its body weight, it will get
 
250 x 0.18 = 45 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

15% Meat and whole prey
5% Fish products
2% Concentrates
60% Leafy greens and cabbages
10% Other vegetables
8% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.15 x 45 kg = 6,750 g meat and whole prey
0.05 x 45 kg = 2,250 g fish products
0.02 x 45 kg = 900 g concentrates
0.6 x 45 kg = 27,000 g leafy greens and cabbages
0.1 x 45 kg = 4,500 g other vegetables
0.08 x 45 kg = 3,600 g other

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of whole prey
Variety of meat
Variety of leafy and cabbage vegetables

Not recommended

Fruits


Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

  • Arthritis and Skeletal Disease
  • Dental Disease
  • Urolithiasis

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least three feeding moments per day.
  • More frequent feeding with smaller portion of food more closely matches the natural feeding behaviour.
  • The diet should be very diverse to resemble the natural range of plants and food types consumed.
  • Bears have different nutritional needs every season. Although fasting days are inappropriate for bears in captivity, the diet should be adapted accordingly to the activity levels to avoid obesity (read more about seasonal fluctuations and hibernation).
  • To promote the oral health, it is important to offer the soft food first and then the hard food such as bones and skin.
  • Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).