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Black Bear (Ursus Americanus)

General Description: The black bear is approximately 4 to 7 feet from nose to tail, and two to three feet high at the withers. It has small eyes, rounded ears, a long snout, a large body, a short tail, and shaggy hair.  It differs from grizzly bears in being smaller with a smaller shoulder hump, a furred rear instep, a less concave facial profile, smaller claws that are more tightly curved, and longer, smoother, and more tapered ears.

Range: The American black bear is found only in North America.  The population is estimated at 750,000. They live in forests as far south as Florida and northern Mexico and as far north as forests grow in Alaska and Canada.  In northern Labrador, where grizzly bears no longer live, black bears range out onto open tundra where there are no trees to escape into. 

Adult Weights: Wild male black bears of breeding age usually weigh between 125 and 500 pounds, depending upon age, season, and food.  Very well fed bears can be heavier.  The record is 880 pounds in Craven County, North Carolina, and a close second from northeastern Minnesota weighed 876 pounds on September 5, 1994.  Wild females usually weigh between 90 and 300 pounds with the heaviest known female weighing 520 pounds in northeastern Minnesota on August 30, 1993.  Black bears in captivity may exceed these records.

Mating Season: Usually from late May to early July.  In the eastern deciduous forest, mating season can extend into August.  Birth: January or early February. Number of Cubs: The number of cubs in a litter is usually 2 in the western United States and 3 in the eastern United States.  First litters are often only 1 or 2.  Litters of 6 have been reported in several eastern states. Vision: Bears see in color and have good vision close-up.  Their distance vision (over two hundred yards) has not been tested.Hearing: Exceeds human frequency ranges and probably twice the sensitivity. Smelling: Their smelling ability is extremely good.   The limits are untested.  Their nasal mucosa area is about 100 times larger than in humans.    Intelligence: Large brain compared to body size.  One of the more intelligent mammals.   Navigation ability superior to humans. Excellent long-term memory.  Can generalize to the simple concept level.  Sounds: Usually silent (except in movies in which sounds are dubbed in).  A variety of grunts in amiable situations.  Loud blowing noises when frightened.  Clack teeth when frightened.  They use a resonant, humanlike “voice” to express a range of emotions from pleasure to fear.  Does not threaten by growling (except in movies).  In story-telling, any sound a bear makes is called a growl.   Swimming Ability: Good. Speed and distance limits are untested.  Can swim at least a mile and a half in fresh water.  One swam more than 9 miles in the Gulf of Mexico.  Can swim to island campsites. Running Speed: Lean bears can exceed 30 mph.  Can run uphill, downhill, or on level ground.  Fat bears in winter coats overheat and tire quickly. Daily Activity Period: Most bears become active a half-hour before sunrise, take a nap or two during the day, and bed down for the night an hour or two after sunset.  However, some bears are active at night to avoid people or bears. Preferred Foods: Nuts, acorns, fruit, insects, succulent greens.  Meat and less succulent greens are eaten when preferred foods are scarce.  A scarcity of preferred foods can result in failed reproduction, stunted growth, failure to add optimal amounts of fat, and death of young bears, especially cubs.

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