They build dens beneath fallen trees, hollowed logs, and other protective shelters. Behaviorīlack bears are largely solitary creatures, except when breeding. Cubs are especially vulnerable to predation by these other animals. Predatorsīlack bears may become prey to mountain lions ( Puma concolor), wolves ( Canis lupus), coyotes ( Canis latrans), bobcats ( Lynx rufus), grizzly bears, humans, or other black bears. They even occasionally hijack carcasses of these animals that were killed by another predator such as a mountain lion. 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.
Most of their diet consists of berries, fruit, sedges, and insects.
They rely heavily on their sense of smell for finding food it is thought that they can smell a food source from over two miles away. They will often travel along humanmade trails, retired logging roads, and game trails.Īn unusual snack - This black bear is munching on dandelions!īlack bears are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. In the spring, they are commonly found near wetlands and early green-up areas, while in the summer and fall, they will occur near large berry patches. They will follow seasonal landscape changes to rely on different food sources throughout the year. Black bears live over an individual home range of 24 square kilometers (15 square miles) or more. They are also found in forests throughout Canada, Alaska, the Rocky Mountains, the upper Midwest, parts of the southern U.S., the Appalachian Mountains, and down into Mexico. Range and Preferred Habitatīlack bears are common throughout the Pacific Northwest’s forests and mountains. They are thought to have the keenest noses in the animal kingdom, but their sense of smell is so good that it is difficult to measure! Black bears are the only species of bear currently in southern Oregon and northern California. Black bears also have small heads with straight-line profiles, rounded ears, non-retractable claws on their paws, and an incredible sense of smell. The black bear’s flat back distinguishes it from a grizzly bear ( Ursus arctos), which has quite a pronounced hump on its shoulders. While this may sound large, black bears are the smallest North American bear. Unlike its name suggests, a black bear’s fur ranges from grey to blue-grey, black, cinnamon and even white! Adults are between 1.5 and 1.8 m (5–6 ft) long and can weigh between 90 and 272 kg (200–600 lbs). Visitors, rangers, and bears, oh my! You can be sure to find park rangers and visitors on any trip to a national park, but did you know that in many of this region’s parks, you may also encounter black bears ( Ursus americanus)? General Description What's in a name? This black bear standing on a log actually has cinnamon-colored fur!
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