For starters, bear friends new and old, let's get a few things straight here -- the recent regular appearance of IMPORTANT BEAR NEWS in your inboxes as a nearly weekly publication has more to do with a general increase of IMPORTANT BEAR NEWS in the wild and less to do with the realities of this publication's actual intended frequency. Hell, between volumes four and five, nearly five whole months flew by. [Hibernation, H E L L O]. We also want to make clear that, while you should all obviously follow IMPORTANT BEAR NEWS on Twitter [@ImportBearNews] if you haven't already [if not, rude], the real source of IMPORTANT BEAR NEWS is right here, in your inbox / on your smart phone / in your dreams. As long as those few important bits of IMPORTANT BEAR NEWS curia are settled, let's sally forth into the great northern woods for the bears.

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With Hot PM, Canada Wonders About Future Of Pandas
Scratch That, Old PM's Province Hated Grizzly Cubs
No Bear Left Behind Program Falters In Montana
Montana Anti-Bear Education Bias Continues
Shopping While Bear Noted Russian Danger
Bear Painting Terrifying, Expensive, Unique
Florida Moves Ahead With Terrible Anti-Bear Idea
Seriously, Florida, Just Stop Before You Start
Florida, These Rules Really Don't Help Your Case
Where Can We Get One Of These Panda Costumes For Halloween
Youthful Red Panda Is Youthful, Adorable

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Sloth bear [Melursus ursinus]], forest-dwelling member of the family Ursidae. Named for its slow-moving habits, the sloth bear has poor senses of sight and hearing but has a good sense of smell. An adult usually stands about 30 inches at the shoulder, weighs 200–250 pounds, and is about 5 feet long, with a 7–12-centimetre tail. Shades of gray, red, or brown may tinge its black, shaggy coat, composed of long hairs—longest between the shoulders. 

food: With long, curved front claws (extending from large paws), it digs toward and rips open a nest of bees or termites. Inserting its long snout into the nest and closing its nostrils (thereby preventing entry of insects into its respiratory passages), the sloth bear opens its protrusible lips and sucks in the insects through the gap caused by the lack of central upper incisors. Supplements to this diet include fruit, honey, grains, and small vertebrates.

habitat: inhabits tropical or subtropical regions of India and Sri Lanka.

[Via Encyclopedia Britannica]

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