A prehistoric South American giant short-faced bear tipped the scales at up to 3,500 pounds (1,600 kilograms) and towered at least 11 feet (3.4 meters) standing up, according to a new study.
Bear BITES
- This bear roamed North America up to approximately 11,000 years ago. According to sources, it was the most common early North American bear.
- It's been estimated that the bears would have had to eat approximately 35 pounds of meat every day in order to survive.
- Short-Faced Bear fossils have been found all over the world, from Alaska to Mississippi.
- The bear's population would have peaked about 800,000 years ago.
- Even with their incredible stature, the bears could run up to 40 miles per hour and chase prey or scare any other game away from the spoils of a successful hunt.
- A mature short-faced bear could reach a height of 14 feet when standing.
- The short-faced bear would weigh in at an unfathomable 2,000 pounds. A male grizzly, for comparison, weighs about 600.
