Dire bear

A dire bear seen in Manual of Monsters

A dire bear seen in Monster Guide

Concept art of a Dire Bear by Red Knuckle

Dire bears are gigantic bears, perhaps 20 feet tall when they rear onto their hind legs. They can grow between 12 feet and 18-20 feet. They can weigh between 6,000-8,000 pounds. They have a rich dark coat of fur in shades between brown and black, and a powerful build. Some have been spotted in Mulgore and Ashenvale. They avoid humans, but show no fear if provoked.

Occasionally, a dire bear will eat livestock or even attack lone travelers for food, but such action is rare. They are good swimmers and may attack from the water; others hunt seals. A dire bear will attempt to get a good hold on a victim and then bite until the victim is dead.

Some dire bears are known to have bony protrusions all over their body, as if their skeletons were trying to fight their way out. The omnivorous dire bear usually does not bother creatures that assiduously try to avoid it, but it aggressively defends a kill or other source of food. It does not hesitate to rip apart anything that might contain something edible.

Druids are able to turn into dire bears. Beastmasters, such as Tagar Bearclaw, keep a dire bear as a companion.