Black bears (Ursus americanus) currently range more widely than grizzlies (Ursus arctos) in the lower 48, but where both species roam they are sometimes confused. In a national park where animals are habituated to human viewers, you’re probably more likely … Continue reading →
Black bears visit certain “mark trees” that they bite, rub, and claw presumably for the purpose of communication with other bears. Multiple bears may visit the same tree repeatedly, resulting in an abundance of accumulated sign. Males mark mostly in … Continue reading →
The timing and length of a black bear’s hibernation depend on food availability, weather, and reproductive status. In the west, bears tend to sleep straight through till spring, but in eastern North America where acorns or other nuts may be … Continue reading →
Black bears are opportunistic omnivores, which typically consume much more vegetation than meat, especially in spring, when they head for the wetlands to partake of emerging tender greens. In fact, an analysis of bear scats over the course of a … Continue reading →
