This note reports the occurrence of inbreeding depression in a captive
brown bear Ursus arctos population. We analyzed studbook records of b
rown bears bred in Nordic toes and found a significant reduction in li
tter size following an increase of inbreeding. In addition, albinism i
s associated with inbreeding in this population. The amount of depress
ion is compared to that found in other species. Our results are in dis
agreement with the contention that mammalian carnivores are adapted to
close inbreeding.