Bear Myths and Legends
- The English word "berserk" is derived from a legend that originated in Scandinavia. At one time, there was a belief that some people could become a bear or start showing characteristics of a bear, and this is where the word berserk comes from. Common belief was that if a Viking warrior would wear a bear-skin shirt that had been treated with special herbs and oils, he would have strength and stamina of a bear when he went into battle. The bear-skin shirt the warrior had was called a bear-sark (berserk). These "berserk" people would be completely crazy in war and some people claimed they could bite through their enemy's shields or walk through fire without getting hurt. I don't know how much adrenaline had to play in the matter, and of course it's just a legend, but there's not much that would be more awesome than a bunch of crazy Vikings acting like bears.
- Ursus americanus kermodei, commonly known as the spirit bear, is a rare white subspecies of the American black bear found in temperate rain forests on the Pacific coast of North America. Many Native American traditions believe these animals to have supernatural powers.
- The mascot of the United States Forest Service, Smokey Bear, is based on an actual black bear cub found in New Mexico after a forest fire. The black bear is also the state animal for New Mexico.
- It was reported by several news media outlets in 2004 that a wild black bear was found passed out drunk after drinking 36 cans of beer in Baker Lake, Washington, USA. The bear opened a camper's cooler and used its claws and teeth to open the beer cans. It was found the bear selectively opened cans of Rainier Beer and left all but one Busch beer unconsumed.