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Wildlife
- Mammals - |
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus) |
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RANGE: The black bear did not originate on this
continent, however; it came over from Asia across the Bering
land bridge about 500,000 years ago. Black bears inhabit
suitable habitat throughout Alaska and Canada, although range is
patchy in the lower 48 states.
STATUS: Not a protected species
HABITAT: Black bear most commonly occur in forests with a dense,
shrubby under story, with nearby riparian areas or water
sources, and even common around camp grounds, where bears have
learned to gain access to an easy snack by rummaging through ice
chests or garbage cans.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Undisturbed shelter for dens
during periods of winter dormancy, den sites include areas such
as, under the root masses of wind thrown trees, caves, even dense
thickets or mine shafts.
BREEDING: Black bears breed about three years of age, breeding
occurs in the months of June and July, with two to three cubs
born in January or February. Cubs leave the den at about two
months of age and remain with the mother one year, during this
time the mother bear is very protective of the cubs, and cubs
should never be approached as the sow can become quite
aggressive.
FOOD: Omnivorous; bears will feed upon almost anything, like
cows bears will consume large quantities of grasses and sedges,
other vegetable matter consumed includes, forbs, nuts, berries,
honey, fruits, tubers, bark and cambium, bees, insects and
insect larvae, small mammals, fish, eggs, honey, carrion, and
garbage.
REFERENCES: Burt 1952 Cstui et al Verts et al |
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