Something’s Bruin: Brown Bear. Bruin comes from Middle English for “Brown,” but a mere color cannot do justice to this powerful, imposing animal. Across its broad range in the Old World and New, conflicts with humans have usually ended up poorly for the bear, so today it is mostly a wilderness inhabitant, particularly in Alaska, Russia, and Canada. We may think of it as a fearsome predator, but about 90% of its diet is vegetarian. Even as a predator, a lot of its take is insects, rodents, birds, clams, and crabs; coastal brown bears with access to spawning salmon can attain the greatest size. In this painting, a brown bear has emerged from hibernation and is looking for food. I suggest that you stay out of his way!