熊 Bear

熊，是一种大型哺乳類，属于食肉目犬形亚目熊科，现存进化关系最近的物种是鳍足类（海狮、海豹、海象）和犬科。现在地球上有八种熊，广泛分布北半球和南半球的一部分，如亚洲、欧洲、美洲和北极。

常见的特征是身躯庞大、四肢粗壮有力、长鼻子、厚毛发、短尾、跖行足、每只脚爪上有五个弯曲锋利不能回缩的爪子（对比猫科动物的爪子是可以回缩的）。北极熊基本是食肉动物，而其他的熊都是杂食动物。

除去母亲带小熊的情况，一般是独自行动。昼出夜伏，不过也会夜晚或黎明活动，特别是在人类附近的时候。嗅觉极其灵敏，看似笨拙，实际奔跑速度极快，时速可达40km/h，耐力超群，而且可以适应各种气候和地形。在秋天，熊吃了发酵的果子会表现出醉态。^[1]熊需要一个掩蔽所，如一个山洞或树洞，以供冬季在其中冬眠，冬眠有时会长达100天。^[2]

史前人类就有捕猎熊的历史，为了获取它们的肉和毛皮。它们的形象经常出现在神话传说、文学、艺术中。但在现代社会，因为栖息地减少和非法的熊制品贸易，熊面临着灭绝的压力。国际动物保护组织称有六种熊处于危险至濒危级别，棕熊在有些地区已经灭绝。

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although only eightspecies of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere and partially in the Southern Hemisphere. Bears are found on the continents of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Common characteristics of modern bears include large bodies with stocky legs, long snouts, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and short tails. While the polar bear is mostly carnivorous, and the giant panda feeds almost entirely on bamboo, the remaining six species are omnivorous with varied diets.

With the exception of courting individuals and mothers with their young, bears are typically solitary animals. They are generally diurnal, but may be active during the night (nocturnal) or twilight (crepuscular), particularly around humans. Bears possess an excellent sense of smell and, despite their heavy build and awkward gait, are adept runners, climbers, and swimmers. In autumn, some bear species forage large amounts of fermented fruits, which affects their behaviour.^[1] Bears use shelters, such as caves and burrows, as their dens; most species occupy their dens during the winter for a long period (up to 100 days) of sleep similar to hibernation.^[2]

Bears have been hunted since prehistoric times for their meat and fur. With their tremendous physical presence and charisma, they play a prominent role in the Arts,mythology, and other cultural aspects of various human societies. In modern times, the bears' existence has been pressured through the encroachment on their habitats and the illegal trade of bears and bear parts, including the Asian bile bear market. The IUCN lists six bear species as vulnerable or endangered, and even least concern species, such as the brown bear, are at risk of extirpation in certain countries. The poaching and international trade of these most threatened populations are prohibited, but still ongoing.