Artist's notes

The short-faced bear (Arctodus simus) was the largest predatory mammal in North America’s history, with males weighing up to 1,000 kg. It lived alongside brown and black bears but was not their ancestor; its closest relative is the spectacled bear from South America. The bear was omnivorous, primarily eating plants but also preying on animals and scavenging from other predators like dire wolves. It inhabited a wide range, from Alaska to Mexico, and was most comfortable in forests. The short-faced bear, along with many other large animals, went extinct about 12,000 years ago, possibly due to human activity and environmental changes.