American Black Bear

American Black Bear

 

 

American Black Bear Facts

American Black Bear - Ursus americanus

American Black Bear Description

American Black Bears are very different in their size depending on where they live. This is why some of them are only a couple of hundreds pounds while others are more than twice that size. The majority of them do end up being about 5 feet tall though. They are often mistaken for other types of bears due to their different sizes. They can be brown or black in color.

American Black Bear Anatomy

These are very fast moving bears when they need to, up to 40 miles per hour. They generally don’t have to move along at that rate in the wild. However, when they need to run from danger or they need to be faster than their prey it isn’t hard for them to do so. Many people are amazing to see bears with such a stocky build being able to run so fast!

Like other species of bears they do have very sharp claws. Those do allow them to perform many different things. For example they are able to climb, to get their prey, to defend themselves, and even to take bark off of trees. They happen to have two layers of fur instead of just one.

The outer later protects them from bugs and the sunlight. The inner coat offers them a line of defense against water and the wind. This is why the American Black Bears are able to survive in a variety of different environments without any problems. Their ability to adapt due to their anatomy is something that continues to fascinate researchers.

It is known that they have amazing abilities when it comes to smelling and when it comes to their hearing. However, they have the worst vision of any species of bear out there. They are able to make out shapes but not fully make out what they see. This is why they can sometimes be aggressive because they aren’t sure if they are in danger or not.

American Black Bear Evolution

The American Black Bear has been able to evolve for more than three and a half million years. That is absolutely remarkable given all that has changed over that period of time. They have been able to rely heavily upon plant life instead of just meat to be able to survive during this period of time.

While it may be difficult to believe, the early ancestors of these bears actually are related to felines. This could account for the amazing speed and agility this species continues to have today. There are theories including the possibility of these bears having tails long ago.

American Black Bear Behavior

Sleeping during the heat of the day is the common behavioral pattern for these bears. They are active in the early morning light and as the sun starts to go down. While resting they can be found in shady areas that are nice and cool. They can wake up easily during the day though if they smell or hear something out of the ordinary.

While they do have their own territory, they have no problem moving beyond it to find food, to mate, or when their curiosity is peaked. This is why they seem to have so many run ins with humans. It is also why they end up in battles with each other. Most of these battles are between two males, but not always.

American Black Bear Habitat and Distribution

The American Black Bear is very diversified when it comes to where you will find them. They are going to be able to thrive where they have lots of shade from trees, plenty of food, and places where they can hibernate. This can be in the mountains, along the plains, and even in swamps.

As their natural environment changes they are able to move in new directions to be able to get their basic needs met. This is why it isn’t uncommon for humans that live close to the wilderness to find these bears around their homes when that was never a problem in the past. Canada, Mexico, and the United States are all countries where you will find the American Black Bear living.

American Black Bear Diet and Feeding Habits

Like most bears they love to consume fruits, berries, and nuts. They also consume other types of plant life include leaves, bark off of trees, and grass. They have a sweet tooth as well that is hard to satisfy. Some items that they enjoy are honey and yams. It is this desire for sweets that can also lead them into trouble. They will find such foods that humans have left uncontained.

Meat is also part of the diet for the American Black Bears. They are able to easily hunt both small and large animals. They are very fast, have sharp claws, and have amazing strength. This has also led them to killing cattle that are raised close to their environment so the battle between them and humans continues.

Some very crazy things have been found in the stomach contents of these bears. They including clothing, toys, shoes, tools, and more. This has lead researchers to believe that the American Black Bear isn’t worried at all about what they consume. They have healthy appetites and they will consume just about anything to satisfy it.

A huge problem though is that once these bears start an unhealthy diet of human food they seem to be turned off by their normal diet. This can continue to bring bears and humans too close to each other. Successfully removing these bears and introducing them into new environments hasn’t been very successful either.

American Black Bear Reproduction

Mating of the American Black Bear takes place in the spring and summer months. The males can travel a great distance in order to reach the females. They may battle with each other to get to mate with one of the females. The biggest and strongest males will get that right. The courting and mating process can last for several days.

The females are able to delay when the embryo begins to grow in her body. This allows the young to be born in the first two months of the following year. When they are born she will be in a den hibernating. The fat that she stored up over the summer and the fall will be used to feed her and the young. When they are a couple of months old she will bring them out to the rest of the world. She can have from two up to four cubs at a time.

American Black Bear Predators

The conflicts that erupt between American Black Bears can result in death. Generally this will occur between two males that are fighting over food, territories, or mating rights. Full grown ones may eat the younger ones when food is scarce. There are a variety of other animals out there including different species of bears that can try to feed from them as well.

Hunting of these bears is very common, and in most areas it is very legal. There are about 400,000 of them left in the wild so controlling that population is why it is legal in controlled situations. A certain number of tags are offered in order for hunting in a specific season are available annually. There are some trapped though and sold for profit as people find them to be a type of pet they are willing to pay lots of money for.

 

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