Bear locomotion and posture

[blaze]

Does anyone know of any study or something like that regarding the posture and locomotion of bears? do the whole of their palms touch the ground when walking or are they "digitigrade"? also, do they have cushion pads on their feet?



Van appears to have

But this big polar bear I'm not sure



I'm trying to make a realistic "neutral" pose for my Arctodus to facilitate a GDI.

[Vodmeister]

I do believe that bears walk flat-footed, while other animals like felines walk on the balls of their feet.

As for the sole pads of bears;

[blaze]

But I meant the front legs, that's what I don't get, when just standing, do they normally touch the ground with all of their hands or do they keep the posterior part elevated from the ground? I've seen photos of them, apparently doing it both ways but I'm not sure.

Regarding the sole pads, my question was more on the vein of if they normally get ridiculously thick like it looks in the brown bear photo of my op or if it only looks like that in very big individuals but thanks for the photos, I'm seeing that I have articulated the feet and hands too flat in my skeletal.

[Runic]

Bears are plantigrade whether upright or on all fours.