Zoo database

Brown bear

Ursus arctos

Natural diet Brown bear

Fish
Grain / seeds
Grasses
Insects
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Leaves
Vertebrates

The brown bear is an omnivorous species with a very diverse diet. For example, they feed on mammals and fish but also plants, berries and more are consumed. Food intake increases during spring/summer months to accumulate enough fat because of hibernation during the winter period.

Feeding advice Brown bear

Feed quantity per day

18% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 250 kg and eats 18% of its body weight, it will get

250 x 0.18 = 45 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

15% Meat products and whole prey
5% Fish products
2% Concentrates
60% Leafy and cabbage vegetables
10% Other vegetables
8% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.15 x 45 kg = 6750 g meat products and whole prey
0.05 x 45 kg = 2250 g fish products
0.02 x 45 kg = 900 g concentrates
0.6 x 45 kg = 27000 g leafy and cabbage vegetables
0.1 x 45 kg = 4500 g other vegetables
0.08 x 45 kg = 3600 g other

Diet suggestions

Not recommended

Fruits

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least three feeding moments per day.
More frequent feeding with smaller portion of food more closely matches the natural feeding behaviour.
The diet should be very diverse to resemble the natural range of plants and food types consumed.
Bears have different nutritional needs every season. Although fasting days are inappropriate for bears in captivity, the diet should be adapted accordingly to the activity levels to avoid obesity (read more about seasonal fluctuations and hibernation).
To promote the oral health, it is important to offer the soft food first and then the hard food such as bones and skin.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Arthritis and Skeletal Disease
Dental Disease
Urolithiasis

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

DK Omnivore diet

Large weaner rat 60-90 g

Herring large MSC - ca. 24 kg box

Large rats 250-350 g

Michel Janssen

Manager Finance & IT