Bears of the Pleistocene

[brotherbear]

Yellowstone Bears in the Wild by James C. Halfpenny.

During the Pleistocene Ice Age, the giant short-faced bear ( Arctodus simus ), perhaps the largest land mammalian carnivore ever to roam North America, imposed its might on giant bison, horses, and even mammoths. This bear was estimated to have weighed on average more than 1,300 pounds and may have reached a maximum weight of more than 2,000 pounds. Fossils of the giant short-faced bear have been found near the Yellowstone area.
The giant short-faced bear had long legs and its toes pointed forward. Both adaptations allowed the bear to gallop at great speeds. Some scientist have argued that this was the fastest, greatest predator of all, while others, citing the bear's teeth, believe the huge bruin was a vegetarian. My late colleague Dr. Elaine Anderson, bear paleontologist and co-author of Pleistocene Mammals of North America, summed it up by saying, "When you are that big, you eat anything you please, anytime you want. The giant was probably little different than recent bears in that it ate vegetation but dined on meat obtained through predation whenever possible." Reply