Honeysnout Bears

Black Bears of the Southern Continent

Trees crack and bend as a swift paw pushes them, toppling to the ground as nothing more than a pile of branches and kindling. This will be carried up into the branches to make a nest of sorts, a feeding platform that will hold an animal as it rests and feeds. To those below, it may look like a large bird is taking up residence in the tree tops, but the trained eye will spot the tuft of black fur that may rise above, signaling the chaotic pile in the trees for what it is. Not too far away, a tree will be hollowed out, marking this area as bear territory.
Honeysnout Bears are by far the most common bear found through Nótios. Mostly black in color, these bears are easy to denote by the white patch on their chests that is often V-shaped. A medium-sized predator, these creatures live off the land, away from the prying eyes of people in the tree tops where they can rest and feed. In many cases, seeing a Honeysnout Bear is a sign of good foraging and possible safety from other predators in the area.
Those who have crossed paths with a Honeysnout Bear are often surprised by their size and their timidness as they tend to stay as far as possible from people and settled areas. While larger than their Coaldust Bear cousins, Honeysnout Bears would rather be nocturnal than interact with civilization, causing sightings of these bears to be extremely rare. These bears are opportunistic and would rather wait for others to leave than attack. That being said, one should never wish to anger one of these bears for fear of great injury or death.

Basic Information

White Spots

Asiatic Black Bear by Guérin Nicolas on Wikimedia Commons

Although Honeysnout Bears are known for their features which are very similar to the Coaldust Bears, it is also common for Honeysnout Bears to have large patches of white fur on their chests and stomachs.

Anatomy

Honeysnout Bears are medium-sized bears, often ranging from forty-five to eighty inches in length and roughly twenty-five to forty inches at the shoulder. Depending on the season and gender, one of these bears can weigh anywhere from slightly under one hundred pounds to upwards of four hundred pounds. They are not considered the largest predators in the areas they inhabit, but few predators are larger than the Honeysnout Bears.
These bears have extremely powerful upper bodies that allow them to climb trees and weaker hind legs that are shorter compared to their cousins the Coaldust Bears. Even without the use of their hind legs, these bears can climb great distances. Honeysnout Bears are also considered to be the most bipedal of all bears and they will walk upright for distances of a quarter mile or more.
The claws of these bears are much longer on their front feet than their hind feet so that they can more easily climb and dig for their foot. These claws can be over two inches long and are also more hook-like, allowing them to dig for tubers and insects more easily.

Genetics & Reproduction

Honeysnout Bears rarely, if ever, hibernate as they prefer to migrate to lower elevations and warmer climates in the winter months. That being said, pregnant mothers may choose to hibernate in hollowed-out trees or in caves in order to keep their bodies in the necessary condition to support anywhere from one to four cubs. After hibernating for nearly five months, these dens will become a place where mothers can nurse and care for their cubs for additional weeks before venturing out into the world.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Honeysnout Bears are one of the only species that can be found in nearly every area of the Southern Continent, excluding parts of the Edge Tundra and Either Tundra. Content to roam most of the continent, these bears will make their homes in caves and hollowed-out trees, often climbing into the tree tops and building nest-like structures to rest and feed in. These bears will give settled areas a wide berth, choosing to change their habits and territory rather than interacting with people.
There are rarely territory disputes between Honeysnout Bears and other predators due to the opportunistic nature of Honeysnout Bears. These creatures often roam areas smaller than one square mile and will fill their omnivorous diet with whatever sustenance is available. In many instances, Honeysnout Bears form mutually helpful relationships with other bears that result in easily accessible food.

Honeysnout Bear

Himalayan Black Bear by flowcomm on Wikimedia Commons

Honeysnout Bears were given their name because of the yellow or brown coloration around their noses that makes it look like they have dipped their snouts in honey. In many ways, Honeysnout Bears look very similar to their northern cousins, the Coaldust Bears.

Scientific Name

Ursus sunden

Origin/Ancestry

Ursus

Lifespan

20 to 40 years

Average Height

25 in to 40 in at the shoulder

Average Weight

80 lbs to 400 lbs

Average Length

45 in to 80 in

Geographic Distribution

• Nótios

Confused Bears

As Scholars first began to study the fauna of Nótios, it was assumed that Honeysnout Bears were yet another subspecies of the Coaldust Bears that had adapted to the different climates further south. This was soon discredited as while the Honeysnout Bears were extremely similar in coloration to the Coaldust Bears, their features more closely resembled Dust Bears.
Further study into the habits of the Honeysnout Bears made Scholars come to the conclusion that these bears bore little relation to the bears on the Northern Continent and where in fact their own species. Many noted that the oddities of building nests in trees and the lack of hibernation separated these bears too far from the ones that were found in the north.