European Cave Bear

Extinct for about 27,500 years, the European Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus) as a species became victim to the Last Glacial Maximum during the Pleistocene era. The European Cave Bear, or just Cave Bear, received its name from the fact that many of their fossils were discovered inside caves. This means the Cave Bear spent more time in caves than normal bears, and most likely used them for everyday shelter, and not just for hibernation. Some caves in Europe contain layers of bones, almost exclusively from European Cave Bears.

European Cave Bear Habitat

Remains of the European Cave Bear have been found in many European countries. The largest amount of fossil remains has been found in Switzerland, Austria, southern Germany, northern Spain and Italy, Romania, Hungary and Croatia. There has been so many bones found in some areas that some experts believe that the European Cave Bear may have lived in large herds in some areas. The large amount of bones may also have been due to a layering over a long period of time. As for actual geology, the European Cave Bear lived in low mountainous and forested regions that were littered with limestone caves.