FEATURES
stature
Stocky, powerful build, limbs long and strong, front and hind limbs are approximately the same length
body length
100-280 cm
tail length
6-21 cm
shoulder height
90-150 cm
Weight
Males 140-320 kg, females 100-200 kg
life expectancy
20 to 30 years
number of young
Usually 2-3
mating season
May – July
Sexual maturity / Gestation period / Rearing
Sexually mature at 4 years. Immediately after mating, the embryo does not develop; birth occurs during hibernation between the end of December and the beginning of February. The time between reproduction and birth is 180 to 270 days. Gestation lasts six to eight weeks. Rearing: Females care for their young for two years – a strong protective role – which may lead to aggression towards intruders (animals and humans).
Characteristic features
It hibernates due to food scarcity.
habitat
Large forests in mountainous regions (Alps, Carpathians)
Nutrition
Omnivorous, predominantly herbivorous
Hunting behavior
He is not a good hunter, therefore he gets his animal protein mainly from carrion.
Territoriality
Non-territorial loners, sociable - therefore high densities are possible
History of the brown bear in Austria
The last Austrian bear was killed in Mariazell in 1824. In 1972, after almost 150 years, the bear known as "ÖtscherbärThe first known bear entered Austria. Between 1989 and 1993, the WWF released three more bears from Slovenia and Croatia into Austria. Although the animals demonstrably reproduced (31 cubs), the population has been extinct since 2011. Currently, there is no resident brown bear population in Austria, however, there are annual sightings of individuals roaming from Italy or Slovenia. See link: Bear distribution.
