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The American black bear (Ursus americanus), also known as the black bear, is a species of medium-sized bear endemic to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species.
Learn about the diet, behavior, and habitat of black bears, the most common bears in North America. See stunning photos of these omnivorous and adaptable animals in various colors and settings.
Jun 5, 2024 · Learn about the black bear (Ursus americanus), the most common bear in North America, with 16 subspecies and various colour variations. Find out how they live, eat, mate, hibernate, and interact with humans and other bears.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- American Black Bear Profile
- Interesting American Black Bear Facts
- American Black Bear Fact-File Summary
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The American black bear, more commonly known simply as the black bear, is the smallest of the 3 bear species found in America. The brown or grizzly bear and the polar bearare larger in size, however the black bear is still a huge mammal. They can measure up to 2 metres in length and males can weigh over 400kg. When standing on their hind legs, they...
1. They are not always black in colour
Some black bears can be a very light brown (or cinnamon) color and very rarely, completely white. 3
2. Black bears are shy and timid
Black bears will usually run away or climb up a tree rather than confront humans. This is mostly true but some individual black bears can be very aggressive, especially when threatened. They are however much less likely to attack compared to the brown or grizzly bears, which tend to be less weary and less approachable. Both these species, as well as the polar bear, will usually move on when left alone and black bears especially tend to flee when confronted by people. 4
3. They can eat over 10,000 berries in a day
When food is abundant, black bears will eat as much food as they possibly can, sometimes over 8kg of fruit and berries in a day. When berries and fruits are abundant, black bears will move to these areas and feed almost exclusively on these. They have an excellent sense of smell and this helps them locate ripping berries, nuts and fruits as well as bee hives, where they feed on the honey and bee larvae. 5
Scientific Classification
1. “Ursus americanus-American black bear”, Animal Diversity. 2. “American Black Bear”, World Land Trust. 3. John P. Rafferty. (2023), “Black Bear”, Britannica. 4. Lynn L. Rogers (2020), “Behavior in Free-Living American Black Bear Dens: Parturition, Maternal Care, and Cub Behavior”, NIH. 5. Sarah McPherson, “Black bear guide: how to identify, where to find them and what to do if you encounter one”, Discover Wildlife. 6. “American Black Bear”, Bear Biology. 7. “American Black Bear”, National G...
Learn about the smallest and most widespread of the 3 bear species in North America. Find out their habitat, diet, behavior, reproduction, conservation status and more interesting facts.
- Mammalia
- Carnivora
- Animalia
- Chordata
Jun 22, 2021 · American black bears (Ursus americanus), often simply called black bears, are the most common bears in North America. They live in northern Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
- Patrick Pester
Jul 21, 2021 · Learn about the black bear (Ursus americanus), the smallest and most common bear in North America. Find out its range, diet, behavior, reproduction, and how to see it in national parks.
4 days ago · Learn about the American black bear, the most common and widely distributed species of bears in North America. Find out how their diet, winter denning, and life cycle vary depending on their location and season.
