# What Do Spectacled Bears Eat?

> What spectacled bears eat: Omnivore — fruit, bromeliads, cactus, insects, and small mammals, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Andean cloud forest, scrub, and dry forest from Venezuela to Bolivia.

- **Species:** Spectacled Bear (*Tremarctos ornatus*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Omnivore — fruit, bromeliads, cactus, insects, and small mammals
- **Habitat:** Andean cloud forest, scrub, and dry forest from Venezuela to Bolivia
- **Lifespan:** 20–25 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Agile climber; moderate speed on ground
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/spectacled-bear/what-do-spectacled-bear-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/spectacled-bear/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The spectacled bear is the only bear species native to South America, named for pale facial markings that resemble eyeglasses. It inhabits Andean cloud forests, weighs 60–175 kg (130–385 lb), feeds heavily on fruit and bromeliads, and is listed Vulnerable as forests are cleared.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Andean arboreal bear

Spectacled bears climb extensively to reach fruit, bromeliads, and cactus pads. They build platform nests in trees for resting and feeding. Their short, broad muzzle and strong jaws crush tough vegetation unavailable to many other Andean mammals.

## Help protect the Spectacled Bear

Andean spectacled bears lose cloud forest to farming and roads across their narrow mountain range.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/spectacled-bear/what-do-spectacled-bear-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.