Cave bears – formally referred to as Ursus spelaeus – became extinct around 25,000 years ago. There is much debate as to why this extinction occurred – climate change, and human hunting have both been posited as potential causes.
The species were given the name ‘cave bear’ largely due to the location of their remains: the vast majority of their fossils have been found in caves. In comparison to their modern-day cousins, cave bears, as the name suggests, spent far more time living within caves. They did not just use them to hibernate in.
