Black Bears - Introduction
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Courtesy of
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources © 2003
Queen's Printer for Ontario
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American Black Bears are the most widespread type of the bear and also the most numerous. The range of the bear extends from the northern tree limit of the Arctic far to the south through Canada and the United States. The area where the Black Bear inhabits includes 32 American states, all the provinces and territories of Canada except for Prince Edward Island, and 5 Mexican States.
Black Bears - Diet
As the bear is a seeker of foods and needs a lot of it to keep up its energy, the Black Bear's diet usually consists of more than 75% of vegetable matter that includes berries, flowers, grasses and sedges, herbs, tubers and roots, and nuts of all kinds.
Although the bears are classified as carnivores, they eat meat rarely and their usual food is: vegetation, including twigs, buds, leaves, nuts, roots, fruit, corn, and plant shoots. After a long winter when the animals are especially hungry, they eat even insects and grubs that are located in the rotting logs. The bears also climb trees to get birds' eggs and to eat honey, bees and larvae. They also hunt fish in the rivers and eat small mammals such as porcupines.
Black Bears - Color
Despite the name, American Black Bears may be of different colors. They may be: white, black, brow, and even blue glacier bears.
Black Bears - Mating Period
The animals are most active during spring and summer. And, they are mostly active in the morning and late in the evening. A male and a female have more than one mate during the mating period. The mating period begins in June.
As cold period approaches the American Black Bear begins to choose a den. Dens are usually hollow stumps, tree cavities and so on. Actually the Bears do not hibernate, they are sleeping during a long period. However, sometimes the Bears can leave their dens for a short period, in such cases as when they are disturbed or are experiencing a brief warming trend.
The females give birth to their cubs during the sleeping period; there are usually one to five cubs with each one weighing about 12 ounces. The mother stays in the den with her newly born cubs until late May or April. The cubs usually stay with their mother for a long time - for 18 months or even until the time the female mates again. Mother bears are very protective of their young and, when they are angry, they give sounds like growls, snorts, blows, and snapping of jaws.
The little cubs are born naked and blind. They spend cold winter months in the den with their mother where they are fed. Thus, when they get out of the den in spring, their coat is already long enough and their eyes are open. They are fed their mother's milk until they are 6-8 months old. During the two first winters the cubs spend this time in the den, then American Black Bears become independent in the following spring or summer.
Black Bears - General Information-Links
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Courtesy of
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources © 2003
Queen's Printer for Ontario
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About Bears for Kids - Information for everybody about the American Black Bear, map distribution.
American Black Bear - Photos of American Black Bear, description, range, habitat, diet, social organization. Other information and links on the topic.
American Black Bears - Information about the most numerous bear. General information.
American Education - Articles concerning different aspects of the problem connected to the Black Bears.
Americanbear - This site provides information about all species of bears. It covers biology, mythology, physiology, myths and media.
Bearcountry - Information about the American Black Bear, facts, pictures.
Bearden - Zoo Programs dedicated to the American Black Bears. Brief information about the bears.
Bears of the World - information for children, teachers about the Black Bear and other species of Bears.
Biology of the American Black Bears - Historical range of the American Black Bears, their habitat, behavior, pictures.
American Black Bear Story - The story of a concrete bear that is kept in the zoo.
American Black Bears - Biology and behavior, economic status of American Black Bears.
American Black Bears Behavior - Here is the information on how to get along with northern black bears; plus, facts, safety tips, food storage, and specific methods of peacefully coexistence of bears and people.
Black Bears Brief Information - A little information about the Black Bears.
Blackbearagency - American Black Bear description.
Blueplanet - All about the American Black Bear, its scientific names, common names, description, photo, behavior, range, habitats.
Canada-Black Bears - Photos and distribution map of the American Black Bears.
Exciting Bears - A global resource site for information on the American Black Bear.
Expage - Links on the topic American Black Bears.
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Courtesy of
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources © 2003
Queen's Printer for Ontario
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FAQ about Black Bears - There are a lot of answers to the question about
Grizzlybear - The info about the American Black Bear and the rescue organization. The mission of the Institute is to increase humankind's understanding, appreciation, and protection of our natural environment, particularly wildlife.
Kipsplanet of Animals - The American black bear. Distribution, population, lifespan. General information.
Ladywildlife-American Black Bears - Facts about the American Black Bears, necessary information about their life, habits and behavior.
Tpwd American Black Bears - Habitat and Distribution the American Black Bear is found throughout North America in habitats. There is even more information: Bears in Texas, facts about American Black Bears Blacks.
Yellowstone Bears - Funny pictures about the American Black Bears.
Yellowstoneonline - Information about American Black Bears in Yellowstone National Park. Information extracted from Park Service Information Paper.
Black Bears - Other Black Bears sites
Asiatic Black Bears - The Asiatic Black Bears are also called: Tibetan black Bears, Himalayan black Bears, moon Bears. This Bear is a medium sized Bear with a body of length of 127-188 cm (that is 50-74 inches) and weighs100-200 kg (220-440 pounds). The Asiatic Black Bear is dark brown and black in color. The females are naturally smaller than the males. There is a V-shaped patch of cream-colored fur on the chest of the Bear.
These animals have always fascinated humans. We can see this in the sculptures and on the engravings that have been made by the ancient people. Bears' strength, awesome power, intelligence are the things people have always admired. There are a lot of stories where the Bears played a heroic role.
