The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a medium-sized bear that grows to about 4 to 6 feet in length and between 120 and 660 pounds in weight. Black bears have powerful limbs and are equiped with short claws that enable them to break apart logs, climb trees, and collect grubs and worms.
Black bears hibernate during the winter months (up to six months in some areas). Their coloration tends to vary throughout their range (black in eastern regions, yellow-brown in central areas, and gray-blue in the Pacific coastal region).
About 95 percent of the black bear diet is plant-based and includes roots, buds, nuts, berries, fruit, clover, dandelions, and wild oats. The remaining 5 percent of their diet consists of the larvae of ants, bees, and hornets. Black bears are relatively ineffective predators, and seldomly capture larger prey. On rare occassions, they catch fawns, moose calves, and beaver.
- Mass: 120-150 kg
- Body Length: 130-180 cm
- Tail Length: 12 cm
- Shoulder Height: 80-95 cm
- Diet: omnivore (grasses, berries, nuts, fruit, seeds, insects, small vertebrates, carcasses)
- Breeding Season: June and July
- Age at Sexual Maturity: 3 years
- Number of Offspring: 1-4 (2 average)
- Predators: brown bear, wolf, humans
- Average Lifespan: 30 years
Classification
Where to See
Black bears are adaptable to a range of habitats but tend more towards forested areas. Their range includes Alaska, Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
References
- Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 p.
- Kopack H. 2000. Lagenorhynchus acutus, Animal Diversity Web. May 27, 2004.
