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Fast Facts:

The American black bear is one of eight species of bears found throughout the world.
Bears are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
The polar bear is the largest of the bears and sometimes weighs more than 2,000 pounds. The smallest species is the sun bear, which often weighs less than 100 pounds.

Black Bear

Scientific Name	Ursus americanus
Classification	Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family Ursidae
Status	While many populations are stable and controlled hunting occurs, populations of certain subspecies of American black bears are decreasing. Currently, the Louisiana black bear is classified as threatened by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Some experts believe the Florida black bear will be the next to join the endangered list.
Range	Various areas throughout the western U.S., portions of the eastern and southeastern U.S., Canada, and Alaska.
Habitat	Forests - swampy areas to mountainous regions; tundra
Diet	In the wild, the black bear's diet is mainly (75 - 90%) vegetation. They eat foliage, fruits, berries, nuts, insects and their larvae, small mammals, fish and carrion.
Size	Height: 2.5 - 3 feet at the shoulder Weight: 125-400 lbs.
Lifespan	30 - 40 years
Location
Print Fact Sheet	Black Bear

Social Structure & Behavior

American black bears are mainly solitary. The size of a bear's home range depends upon the availability and abundance of different types of food. Home ranges may be as small as 1 square mile or as large as 100 square miles.

Black bears will often make dens in a hollow log, under tree roots, or beneath a fallen tree. Brown bears and American black bears, usually males, may mark their territory by rubbing and scratching trees and scratching the ground.

In the wild, black bears usually feed in the evening or early morning when it is cool, and seek shade during the heat of the day. Bear vocalizations range from a loud growl during times of aggression to a softer "woof" or whimper sound to warn of danger or call to cubs.

Breeding & Care of Young
American black bears generally reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age. American black bears generally mate during May - July. Males visit females repeatedly over a period of 2-3 weeks.

After a successful mating and egg fertilization, the developing embryo undergoes delayed implantation. The blastula is not implanted in the uterus until late fall/early winter, after which time embryonic development continues. Gestation is usually 220 days, which includes the period of delayed implantation.

Cubs are usually born in the winter den in January or February. Usually 2 cubs are born per litter, but up to 4 have been reported. The tiny cubs weigh 8-12 ounces at birth and are born naked and blind. They require their mother's close care.

Bear milk is very rich and the cubs grow fairly rapidly. The cubs open their eyes at 25-30 days of age. By the time the female leaves the den, about 2-3 months after birth, the cubs are usually large enough to be able to follow her.

Young American black bears may be preyed upon by adult male bears or wolves. Female bears are often very protective of their young. Young bears often play. Activities like play-fighting help prepare them for their adult life. Social play has also been observed in adult bears.

Cubs are usually weaned when they are 7-8 months old, but usually stay with their mother until they are 2 years old.

Other Bear Species

The other bear species have become endangered due to habitat loss and illegal hunting and trade.

Panda bear (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)- fewer than 1,000 survive in the wild in China. They are classified as endangered.
Sloth bear (Ursus ursinus) - found in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. Fewer than 10,000 are believed to survive in the wild.
Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) - found in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and southern China.
Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) - found in various areas in Asia. They are endangered.
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) - found in the Arctic. Population estimates range from 5,000-19,000 left in the wild. They are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Spectacled bear (Andean bear) (Tremarctos ornatus) - found in northwestern South America. They are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.
Brown bears (Ursus arctos) - Three subspecies, U. arctos arctos (found in Italy), U. arctos pruinosus (found in Tibet), and U. arctos nelsoni (found in Mexico) are listed as endangered by the USFWS.
The grizzly bear (U. arctos horriblis) is listed as threatened in the lower 48 states of the U.S. Fewer than 1,000 animals are left in this region due to habitat loss. (Populations in Alaska & western Canada, with 50,000 animals, are not classified.)