Over 25,000 years ago, the massive cave bear, Ursus spelaeus, shared the planet with our early ancestors. This Pleistocene animal was larger and stronger than even most modern grizzly bears and roamed Pleistocene Eurasia like a living tank.

Cave bears get their name from their hibernation spots. When the harsh Pleistocene winter came, they would curl up in a cave and wait it out. Since they lacked any natural predators, nearly all cave bear fossils have been found in caves where they likely died in hibernation. The structure of their teeth suggests a largely plant based diet of nuts, roots, and berries.