American Black Bears In All Their Glory
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Get all the facts about American Black Bears here
As you can see by the cub in this photo, Black bearscome in brown, cinnamon, and they even have a subspecies, known as the Kermode bear aka Spirit bear that is found in British Columbia, Canada, where 1 out of every 10 are cream/white in color.
So, scroll down the page and look at all the great stuff on Black Bears. And come back often as I'll be adding more "stuff". They don't call me Bearmeister for nothing!
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus
Species: U. americanus
Binomial name
Ursus americanus
Pallas, 1780
From Wikipedia
Black Bear Description
The American black bear which is found only in North America is fairly small. In fact it is the smallest of the 3 bear species found in North America standing only 2 to 3 feet at the shoulders and 4 to 7 feet long (nose to tip of the tail). They usually weigh between 150 and 300 pounds, however, some males have been found at 500 to 600 lbs. Females are smaller.Their fur is usually uniform in color but they sport a brown muzzle and sometimes have light markings on their chests.
In the East, the bears are usually black in color while in the west, the bear populations often have brown, cinnamon, and blond coloration in addition to black.
The black bears that have cream/white fur are known as Kermode or Spirit bear or Ghost Bears, a subspecies. These bears are found only in coastal British Columbia, Canada.
They usually life between 20 and 25 years in the wild.
What is a Black Bear's Range?
The American black bear is found throughout America including Canada, the United States and Mexico.In Canada, they inhabit the forested areas where they have historically lived. The only exception is where the land is heavily farmed.
In the United States their habitats have dwindled because of human populations have moved into their habitat. They are now restricted to the less populated forested areas.
Black bears used to inhabit the northern mountains of Mexico. There are now only a few scattered populations of bear.
How do Black Bears Breed?
The size of a female black bear is the determining factor on when she will have her first litter. Some can become pregnant as young as 2-1/2 and others as old as 10 years.The bears mate in late May or June. The egg does not immediately implant in the uterus, instead floating around until November at which time, they implant that is IF the bear has gained enough weight to sustain the pregnancy.
In January, 2 to 5 cubs are born. And, yes, the mother is still in their den hibernating but she actively takes care of here cubs. She cleans them by licking them and aligns them with her teats. They remain in the den for until April, growing all the while.
What Black Bears Eat
Black bears are omnivorous. They eat salmon and will occasionally kill moose calves and young deer. They also eat plants, fruits, nuts and insects. Like all bears, they love honey. Black Bears and Hibernation
Black bears will pick out a shallow depression in the earth, under logs or in hollowed-out trees or dig a den to hibernate during the winter.In the past, the type of hibernation black bears do was not considered a true hibernation because their body temperature does not drop appreciably.
Black bears and brown bears are now both considered hibernators because mammalian hibernation now takes other factor into consideration such as they go up to 7-1/2 months without eating, drinking, urinating, or defecating.
Upon waking, they forage for new shoots and any animals they find that were killed due to the cold. This helps them build their strength quickly.
Black Bear Photo Gallery
My favorite bear photos are by ucumari on Flickr. These are just a few. Click ucumari to see her complete polar bear set.
Black Bear vs. Brown Bears (Grizzlies)
Black bears are smaller in stature than brown bears. Although some may have similiar coloring to Brown Bears, Black Bears are a smaller bear.Also, black bears have no shoulder hump and their ears are both larger and stand straighter than ears on brown bears.
Confrontations between Brown bears and black bears are rare because Brown bears prefer open spaces, whereas brown bears prefer forested or shrubby areas. Brown bears are also nocturnal and Black bears are diurnal so they don't run into each other often.
When there is a confrontation, Brown bears have an advantage of size over the black bear.
Conservation Status - U.S.
"Listed as a threatened subspecies in Louisiana, eastern Texas and southern Mississippi under the federal Endangered Species Act. In 4 others they are state-listed as rare, threatened or endangered (Lousiana, Florida and within the historic range of black bears in southern Mississippi and eastern Texas). The Florida black bear subspecies is listed as threatened by the state of Florida."
Defenders of Wildlife
National Wildlife Federation
Protecting Bears and The Environment
When I discovered the problems facing bears, I looked for an organization that I could work with to help save them. I found the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Their mission is to protect wildlife for our children's future, connect people with nature and to confront global warming.I am proud to be a member of NWF and to support them in their efforts to save Bears and other animals from extinction.
The NWF is also helping to lead a nationwide grassroots effort to protect the Arctic Refuge. For more information on this click NWF-Arctic Refuge. Or, for membership information, click NWF Membership.
Black bear with 5 cubs!
For his story about his encounter and more photos, click Black bear.
Sub-Species -- Kermode Bear aka Spirit Bear aka Ghost Bear
Because this sub-species is so unique and endangered, I have created a separate lens that explores them with more information, photos, videos and organizations helping to save them.
To go there, click Spirit Bear
Kermode Bear aka Spirit Bear aka Ghost Bear
Organizations Helping Black Bears
1
5 Wildlife Species on the Brink of Extinction -Internet Dating
5 Wildlife Species on the Brink of Extinction - Gr more...3 points
2
Polar Bear: Grizzly Bear, Panda, Kodiak, Brown, Sun and Black Bears
Polar Bear with Grizzly Bear, Panda, Kodiak, Sun, more...1 point
3
National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) mission is to more...1 point
4
.: BLACK BEAR CONSERVATION COMMITTEE :. - Home
The mission of the (BBCC) is to promote the restor more...0 points
5
Managing Wildlife Damage: Black Bears
The black bear is a large mammal with powerful lim more...0 points
6
Black Bear - Defenders of Wildlife
A fact sheet about black bears. Black bears are en more...0 points
7
Bear To Dream.Org
Second Chance Bear Rescue. objective is to educate more...0 points
Great Black Bear Resources For More Info
1
American Black Bear - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is the more...0 points
2
Black Bear Facts
Contains facts about nearly every aspect of black more...0 points
3
Ursus Americanus (American Black Bear)
Contains classification information, diet, habitat more...0 points
4
Black Bear, Black Bear Profile, Facts, Information, Photos ...
Get black bear profile, facts, information, photos more...0 points
5
Black Bear: Wildlife Notebook Series - Alaska Department of Fish ...
Description of Black Bears in the Alaska Departmen more...0 points
6
American Black Bear Printout- EnchantedLearning.com
American Black Bears are large, mostly harmless be more...0 points
7
The Bear Facts
The amount of bears that are in need of rehabilita more...0 points
Interesting Books On Black Bears
Here are some great books on Black Bears. Let people know which you think are the best by voting for your favorite book. It's okay to vote for more than 1. And, you can add a another one from Amazon or take a copy of this list. If you add one, don't forget to vote for it!
1
Living With Bears: A Practical Guide to Bear Country by Linda Masterson
Colorado author Linda Masterson dispels myths, rep more...0 points
3
Among the Bears: Raising Orphaned Cubs in the Wild by Benjamin Kilham, Ed Gray
In the spring of 1993, Benjamin Kilham, a naturali more...0 points
4
Bears : Polar Bears, Black Bears and Grizzly Bears (Kids Can Press Wildlife Series) by Deborah Hodge
The eating habits of bears is one of fourteen topi more...0 points
5
Black Bears (Our Wild World Series) by Kathy Feeny
Every title contains: -Where the animal lives, wha more...0 points
6
Beauty Within the Beast: Kinship With Bears in the Alaska Wilderness by Stephen Stringham
An innocent act of kindness turns a bear into a da more...0 points
7
Black Bears: A Natural History by Dave Taylor
In 1990 author, naturalist and photographer Dave T more...0 points
8
In the Company of Wild Bears: A Celebration of Backcountry Grizzlies and Black Bears by Howard Smith
Real-life human-bear encounters with black bears, more...0 points
9
Big Black Bear by Wong Herbert Yee
When Big Black Bear shows up at the Brown Brick Ho more...0 points
New YouTube vids
Black Bears in the News
- Man Saves Black Bear From Drowning, with video
- The Florida wildlife commission official jumped into the Gulf of Mexico to help the animal, who'd wandered into a neighborhood, then been hit by a tranquilzer dart and bolted into the water.
- Water-rescued bear spotted again, taken to zoo
- Water-rescued bear spotted again, taken to wildlife refuge...
- Alaska's leaders look to wipe out more species of wildlife - Digital Journal: Your News Network
- Under recent scrutiny for their wolf hunting and seal bashing practices, Alaska is now on the chopping block of condemnation for its eradication of the black bear.
- North Carolina Zoo Guests Can Explore Life as a Bear and Later Catch the Buzz on Bees Zoo and Aquarium Visitor News
- The North Carolina Zoo will hold the first of four June weekend celebrations of bears?and bees--Saturday, June 6, in the park, when guests can explore life as a bear and later catch the buzz on bees.
Glacier Bear
My Other Bear Lenses
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Are You Polar Bear Aware?
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Polar bears are affected by global warming, oil exploration, and big game hunters, all of which negatively affect their population. The purpose of this lens is to raise money to help save Polar Bears from extinction while helping more people become P...
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Brown Bears (aka Grizzlies and Kodiaks)
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Brown Bears, known as Grizzly bears in the Lower 48 states live 20 to 25 years in the wild. in Alaska the bear is known as the Alaskan Brown Bear or Kodiak bear. Here you find facts about their habitat, range, breeding, habits along with photos, vide...
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Giant Pandas - Cute, Adorable, Endangered
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Here you'll find information, facts, photos and videos about Giant Pandas. There are also informational links to organizations and sanctuaries who's mission is to save them. You can't look at these pictures and videos without smiling at these adorabl...
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Asiatic Black Bears (aka Himalayan, Moon Bear, Tibetan Black Bear)
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These bears by any name are near and dear to my heart. They are a beautiful bear and I have here facts, photos, videos and links to organizations with more info and groups saving these magnificent bears from harm. Thousands of them live un-BEAR-able...
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BEARS: The 8 Wonders Of The World
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This lens showcases the 8 species of bear world-wide. From here, you can go to more in depth lenses about each particular bear with lots of facts, photos and videos. All 8 species of bear are endangered to some degree. Here you'll get facts, photos,...
Member of Save Our Bears (SOB) Group
Save Our Bears is a group of lenses devoted to help change the plight all of the 8 bear species through awareness and fund raising.The lenses show the wonderful nature of bears and many will, at the same time, shine a spotlight on the dangers bears face including: trophy hunters, gall bladder and bile farming, pollution, bear baiting, global warming, and habitat destruction.
You'll also find fun lenses on great polar bear movies, books, teddy bears, even cartoon and toy bears.
Click Save Our Bears (SOB) to go to the group page.
Black Bear Cub up a tree
How you can support National Wildlife Federation's
Alaska Natural Resource Center
NWF and their Alaska Natural Resource Center are leading a nationwide grassroots effort to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).Their campaigns address the issue of climate change and its effect on polar bears from many angles, including clean energy, sustainable tourism, youth conservation leadership, reversing nature deficit, and protecting wildlife from global warming through adaptive management of habitat.
For more information on NWF click NWF-Arctic Refuge. Or, for membership information, click NWF Membership.
For the Alaska Natural Resource Center's office, click Alaska Resource Center.
To make a lens now, click 
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Bear hugs, Frankie
QueSea wrote...
Wow. Great photographs. It looks like our neck of the woods here in Northern Michigan.
Posted January 05, 2009
naturegirl7 wrote...
Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens links to the appropriate plexos and vote for them.
Posted October 25, 2008
Do I look wild and dangerous?
What else is Frankster up to?
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Cat Woman aka Frankster
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I'm known as Cat Woman off-line because I share my home with a bunch of cats; I rescue and foster cats (ferals, FIV positive, abandoned); I work with a local animal non-profit; and I sculpt big cats. Online, I'm known as Cat Woman because of my blog,...
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Bearmeister aka Frankster
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A woman has to know her limitations. Ha. Wouldn't that be nice? This lens is my attempt at explaining just who I am and what I'm up to and maybe justify to myself why I'm so darn busy - LOL. It's a Lensography of my Squidoo BEAR lenses and will incl...
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Copyright 2008 Frankie Kangas All rights reserved.
by Frankster
Hi. I'm Frankie Kangas, aka Frankster, Bearmeister. I love animals, especially bears and cats -- both domestics and big cats. I'm a Calvin and Hobbes...
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