Are Bears Related to Dogs?
Are bears related to Humans?
Are Bears Related to Dogs – To Humans – What are Bears Most Closely Related To?
Over these many years, I’ve met more than a few Bears in our Northern Appalachian hills. And long thought that bears and canines (from wolves to our dogs) must be related.
When I did the research, the answers were surprising!
Are Bears Related to Dogs?
Yes, bears and dogs are related as distant cousins, both belonging to the same suborder, Caniformia (dog-like carnivores) within the order Carnivora.
They share a common ancestor from about 50 to 60 million years ago. They split into different families (Ursidae for bears, Canidae for dogs) after that.
Both dogs and bears evolved from ancient, small, weasel-like mammals called Miacids.
Answer: They are relatives, but not closely.
Extinct Relatives
In the past, there was a group of extinct animals known as “bear-dogs” (Amphicyonidae) that had characteristics of both bears and dogs. But they were not real bears.
Then — What are Bears Most Closely Related To?
“Bears are most closely related to seals, sea lions, and walruses. All of those belong to the ‘doglike’ carnivoran suborder, Caniformia.” Seals? Walruses?
“Other relatives within this suborder include weasels, raccoons, and skunks. But the group within the Caniformia, the Pinnipeds (Seals, sea lions, and walruses) share a closer common branch with bears than any other living animal group. Bears and the water-based Pinnipeds share a common ancestor of 30 million years ago.”
Dawn Bear: “Dawn Bear (Ursavus elmensis), the earliest discovered, true bear ancestor, appeared roughly 20 million years ago. The Dawn Bear had specialized teeth suited for an omnivorous or fully plant-based diet. The Bear Story had begun.”
Are Bears related to Humans?
Very distantly.
If you look at the Family tree of Mammals, the branches of Ursidae and Primates are far, far apart.
But in cultural mythology, there’s a common belief that Bears and Humans were more closely related than any other species.
This was especially true in Northern cultures. North American First Peoples and Northern European (including Celtic, Nordic and Germanic) Cultures believed that Humans and Bears were connected by blood.
Some of this belief came from the similarity in the way we both walked. Humans don’t walk with that rolling gait that all of our closest relatives who are primates do (including our DNA-closest Chimpanzees). We walk almost flat-footed by landing on our heels and pushing off with our toes. The only other animal that walks that way is a Bear walking upright or on all fours.
Also, bear skeletons have a remarkable human likeness.
Thus the many stories in Northern cultures dealing with Bear/Human children. Such as the classic Old English epic poem Beowulf. Even J R R Tolkien wrote about both Beowulf and “Bear’s Son Tales in European folklore.”
Somehow, Spiritually, we are related to Bears.
Talking bears and human children adopted and raised by loving mother bears are common story themes in both Old and New World oral traditions.
I wrote this Bear Story to honour our local Mi’kmaq culture. And to celebrate our mystic Atlantic Canadian forests — where I have wandered most of my life.
In my case, of course, I’ve drawn on those great traditional local stories. While blending in old tales of Celtic and Nordic origin that my Manx Gran told me. And (I can’t help doing it) adding my own elements of modern mythology retellings — reimagined fairy tales.
“Loved this beautiful Animal Tale. Loved Giju’muin, the strong Mama Bear. Perfect!” BOY WHO WAS RAISED BY BEARS Native American Myths & Legends Bear Story
And for more about our ancient relationships with other species, see FACTS ABOUT DOGS: What Was the First Dog on Earth?
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SOURCE NOTE: The bear-related quotes above are from AI Overview. The primary sources seem to be Wikipedia, ScienceDirect, AllGrizzly and WildlifeSos.org.
FEATURED IMAGE top left of this page was painted by Katharine Pyle (1863-1938). From MOTHER’S NURSERY TALES, Told and Illustrated by Katharine Pyle, E P Dutton & Company, New York, 1918. On Project Gutenberg.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES are from our Wildlife Digital Album.
TAGS: Are Bears Related to Dogs, Are bears related to Humans. Osos Civilizados, Ours Civilisés, Zivilisierte Bären.
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