Black bears are intelligent, curious creatures whose primary motivations are guided by their stomachs (1). They are the smallest of the North American bear species but can still weigh in at an impressive 90-250kg (200-600lbs) with females being approximately one third smaller than males (2).

Black bears come in many colours, ranging from black to cinnamon, red to blonde (1). They have longer ears than their cousins, the Grizzly, and tend to have more “rumpy” bodies (1), though the muscular shoulder humps may develop in older bears in certain habitats.

In late summer, bears experience what is called “hyperfagia”, which is an all-encompassing need to eat. They will consume up to 20 000 kilocalories per day (2) to put on enough weight to survive the winter.

While classified as carnivores, bears are opportunistic omnivores, and despite being able to digest cellulose (a primary structural component in green plants), roughly 75% of their diet is vegetarian (2)

Black bears are generally silent, but will communicate with other bears and animals (including us!) when agitated. In these instances, bears can produce a whole host of noises, from huffs and jaw clacking (2) to even a strange hiss sound.

Black bears are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dawn and dusk, though they are active throughout the night and day (2).

 

Black bears, although highly adaptive, are generally forest dwellers that rely on trees for security and shelter (1). Black bears will often retreat up a tree when threatened and will use root hollows or downed trees for dens over winter (2).

Black bears are generally solitary (except females with cubs) (2), occupying a range of approximately 200 square kilometres (2), depending on available food sources.

Though generally preferring to be alone, black bears are not as territorial as once thought and have been observed sharing an area if there is an abundance of available food (2). Siblings have also been documented spending time together after first leaving their mother, even denning together their first winter alone (2)

Black bears breed in early summer, but don’t produce cubs until mid-January or early February while in their winter den (2). Litters typically consist of 2-3 cubs who stay with their mother for one to two summers (2).  

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