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Generally massive, short-legged mammals constituting the family Ursidae.
Bears are the most recently evolved carnivore, found in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Closely related to the dog and the raccoon, most bears climb with ease and are strong swimmers. As a family, they are omnivores, but dietary preferences vary among species (the polar bear feeds mainly on seals, the spectacled bear on vegetation, etc.). Though they do not truly hibernate, bears often sleep fitfully through much of the winter. They live 15–30 years in the wild but much longer in captivity. They have been hunted as trophies, for hides, and for food. See also black bear ; brown bear ; sun bear .
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[c mediumvioletred] (as used in expressions)
skunk bear
Bear Flag Revolt
bear grass
bear market
black bear
brown bear
Bryant Bear
Great Bear Lake
grizzly bear
bear cat
cat bear
polar bear
spectacled bear
Andean bear
sun bear
honey bear
woolly bear
wooly bear
ball bearing
bearing wall
load bearing wall
roller bearing
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