Ursus spelaeus

The cave bear, Ursus spelaeus, was an extinct species of bear that inhabited Europe. These large mammals, weighing between 400 and 1,000 kg (880 to 2,200 pounds), were comparable in size to modern Kodiak and polar bears. They are known for their habit of living in caves, where their remains are often well-preserved. Cave bear fossils have been found across Europe, dating back to the Late Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs.1

Evidence suggests that Stone Age humans occasionally hunted cave bears, but human activity is unlikely to have caused their extinction. It is believed that most cave bears died during hibernation in severe glacial winters, with a significant proportion of remains belonging to very young or old individuals, or those showing signs of illness. One theory suggests their extinction may be linked to evolutionary changes in their skull, which may have compromised their ability to bite effectively, limiting their diet. The extinction of U. spelaeus was a gradual process, completed between 28,000 and 27,000 years ago.1