| The American Black Bear, scientifically known as | | | | and meadows. American Black bears are solitary |
| ursus americanus, is one of the three bear | | | | mammals with the exception of mothers and |
| species found only in North America. Their height | | | | their cubs. They mostly forage alone and would |
| is about 2-3 feet at shoulders with 4-7 feet from | | | | only hunt in groups if there were plenty of food |
| nose to the tip of the tail. Though they can walk | | | | resources in a given area. |
| on both hind legs, they are mostly found walking | | | | Due to the varying weather conditions, some |
| in all four paws. The black bear can live for up to | | | | black bears rarely hibernate. Some would even |
| 25 years in the wild. Bears around eastern areas | | | | leave their dens again and again during hibernation |
| generally have black fur, though some have light | | | | period. In areas where there is continuous food |
| markings on their chests. Black bears on the | | | | supply and warmer weather, they may not |
| western area, on the other hand, sometimes | | | | hibernate or do so for only a short period of time. |
| have brown fur. There are also black bears found | | | | Female black bears also give birth during this time. |
| in British Columbia, Canada with white-bluish fur | | | | As population continues to increase, bear habitats |
| known as Kermode bears. | | | | are continuously being limited. Areas where they |
| Found only in North America, the American black | | | | find food, water and shelter are slowly decreasing. |
| bear is distributed throughout at least 40 states in | | | | In addition to this, other threats of black bear |
| the US, Canada, and Mexico. They can be found in | | | | existence are road-kills, human encroachment, |
| the forested regions of both US and Canada while | | | | poaching and many more. |
| some inhabit the mountainous areas of Mexico. As | | | | Unless they are cornered, threatened or |
| population increases however, these black bears | | | | wounded, black bears seldom attack humans. |
| are slowly being restricted to areas less occupied | | | | There is only an estimated 56-documented killings |
| by humans. There are approximately 600,000 | | | | of humans by black bears in the past 100 years. |
| black bears in North America, 300,000 of which | | | | American black bears are considered threatened |
| are in the US. | | | | subspecies in Louisiana, eastern Texas, southern |
| The American Black Bears are omnivorous. They | | | | Mississippi, and Mexico. Some are subject to black |
| feed on plants along with small mammals, salmon, | | | | bear hunting in other states of the US like New |
| alligator eggs, crayfish, trout and carrion. Though | | | | Jersey and some provinces of Canada except for |
| they are commonly found in forested areas | | | | Manitoba where they are listed as pest species. |
| abundant in fruits and vegetation, bears are | | | | For more information, check this site on American |
| extremely adaptable creatures. They can also be | | | | Black Bears. |
| found in tundra and are able to forage in fields | | | | |