Bears can be found throughout the world. They are generally large animals, and are characterized by a plantigrade walk (on their heels, like humans), a large body, short legs, a stub of a tail, small, round ears, and forward facing eyes.

All bears are classified as carnivores, or meat eaters, but they all eat plants to one degree or another. The panda, for example, is almost exclusively a plant eater. The polar bear is almost entirely a carnivore.

There are considered to be eight species of bear.