where do brown bears live

Brown bears (Ursus arctos) live across a wide geographical range covering parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. In North America, they are found mainly in Alaska, the Yukon, Northwest Territories, western Canada (British Columbia and Alberta), and portions of the northwestern United States along the Rocky Mountains. In Europe, brown bears inhabit mountainous and forested regions such as the Carpathian Mountains, parts of northeastern Europe (Finland, Norway, Sweden), and fragmented populations in countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece. In Asia, they are found predominantly in Russia, with populations extending into northern China, Japan (Hokkaido), Turkey, parts of the Middle East, and some South Asian regions including northern India. Their preferred habitats include forested areas, mountainous regions, tundra, and semi-open country, and they can live at elevations up to 5,000 meters. Brown bears thrive in diverse environments such as coastal areas rich in salmon, alpine meadows, river valleys, and dense forests. They are highly adaptable and can range through various temperate northern forests and even tundra or semi-desert zones. Brown bears are usually solitary and require habitats with low human population density for optimal survival. The total global population is estimated at around 200,000 bears, with the largest concentrations in Russia, the United States, and Canada.