This week we are looking at the American black bear, or simply
black bear, it is a species of medium-sized bear which is endemic to North
America. It is the continent's smallest and most widely
They vary in size, with males typically weighing between 56
to 226 kilos (125 to 500) pounds and females between 40 to 136kilos (90 to 300)
pounds. They generally measure 1.5 to 2.1 metres (5 to 7 feet) in length
and stand less than1 metre (2 to 3 feet) tall at the shoulder on all
fours. When standing upright, they can reach a height of 5 to 6 feet
Most of their diet consists of berries, fruit, sedges, and
insects. They will also occasionally consume fish, honeycomb, and human food
and garbage, so it is important to make sure to keep your items locked up with
bear-proof equipment! In the spring, black bears may prey on young elk and
deer.
They are typically shy and secretive towards humans,
generally avoiding encounters. They are known for their intelligence and
curiosity, exhibiting problem-solving skills and a tendency to
explore. While they can be active at any time of day, they are often
crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. Black
bears are also solitary animals for most of the year, except during mating
season and when females are raising cubs.
They inhabit a wide range of environments across North America,
primarily favouring forested areas. They are commonly found
in mountainous regions, woodlands, and swamps, often seeking out areas
with ample food, water, and shelter.
They may become prey to mountain lions, wolves, coyotes,
bobcats, grizzly bears, humans, or other black bears. Cubs are especially
vulnerable to predation by these other animals.
While they are generally not known to be aggressive towards
humans and often try to avoid encounters, they can be dangerous in certain
situations. They may act defensively if they feel threatened or cornered,
or if they are protecting food or their young. However, fatal black bear
attacks are rare, with only a small number occurring each year in North
America.
Black bear cubs are typically born in January or February,
weighing less than a pound and hairless, inside their mother's den. They
are usually born in litters of one to three, and emerge from the den with their
mother in the spring, weighing around five pounds. Cubs stay with their
mother for about 18 months, learning essential survival skills
The photo of the mum and her cubs is perfect. She is busy supervising and teaching 4 cubs simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteYes that's a cool photo
DeleteThough I think bears are cool, I'm glad I've never been closer to one than a habitat at Black Pines...
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a bear
DeleteWe have bears in our area and they don’t bother anyone. Just like any mama animal or human, just don’t mess with their babies.
ReplyDeleteYeah I get that
DeleteLovely post Jo-Anne, these bears always come across as being vicious in movies.
ReplyDeleteYes they do, I am pleased you liked the post
DeleteBears are something I know a little more about than many of your other subjects. They are very interesting and intelligent animals.
ReplyDeleteThey sound interesting
DeleteVery smart these bears are. It's amazing how they can figure out how to do things like unlock gates, and doors! lol
ReplyDeleteYes the do seem pretty smart
DeleteThe black bear is almost synonymous with the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. Campers do have to be careful about leaving any sort of food outdoors, that's for sure. Thanks, Jo-Anne!
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling me that
DeleteI’ve seen one from a distance while hiking majestic but definitely made me double-check my snack stash. It’s wild how something so shy can still be so powerful.
ReplyDeleteYeah I wouldn't want to run into one
DeleteWe had a lot of black bear in our part of Northern New Jersey when we lived there. One wandered from the woods, down the hill beside our house on a regular basis. My hubs grew up in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and lots of bear there. They're beautiful but not to be messed with. I've got pictures in a couple of my older blog posts...one is here http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/2011/06/black-bear-black-bear-what-do-you-see.html.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool
DeleteThe zoo here has black bears. The colour and size make them quite an interesting animal.
ReplyDeleteThe only place I would see one is in a zoo
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