The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is one of eight species of bear in the bear family Ursidae. Black bears are native to North America and can be found in almost all 50 states. They are the least aggressive bear type and are commonly seen strolling through established neighborhoods. Black bears have been around for millions of years, but many don’t realize how fascinating and unique the American black bear is.
1. They Are Strong Swimmers
Most bears are not great swimmers. The polar bear is the only species of bear that feels at home in the water and can swim for miles. However, the black bear won’t hesitate to jump into the water in search of fish. They will easily enter the water to cross rivers or swim out to island campsites if they smell food. Their swimming abilities have not been thoroughly researched, but it’s believed they can swim a mile and a half with ease. There is documentation of a black bear who swam for more than nine miles in the Gulf of Mexico!
2. Black Bears Are Not True Hibernators
True hibernators are animals that enter a dormant state during the winter months. Their body temperature, heart rate, and metabolism drop significantly. These animals include woodchucks, ground squirrels, and some species of bats. A black bear’s heart rate, temperature, and metabolism decrease but not as significantly as a true hibernator. Some scientists prefer to call a black bear’s hibernation a “torpor,” defined as a state of physical inactivity. Others call a bear’s hibernation “denning” as they spend the winter in their den.
3. They Don’t Eat Much Meat
The American black bear is an apex predator. With its long nails, enormous size, and sharp teeth, you would think it would dine mostly on meat. It may surprise you that black bears are omnivores whose diet consists primarily of vegetation and berries. A black bear’s diet is only 10% meat!
Black bears are opportunistic eaters, meaning they eat whatever they can find. This can vary depending on the time of year. In the spring, they will eat clovers, dandelions, and grasses. They might eat deer fawns or moose calves if they can find them.
The summer months bring them a variety of berries, and they will eat ants, wasps, and bees for protein. Once fall arrives, they enter a feeding frenzy where they will eat for 20 hours a day and gain 100 pounds a week. This is in preparation for spending the winter in their den. Their fall diet consists of grasses, roots, and whatever they can scavenge from carcasses.
4. You Can’t Outrun a Black Bear
You probably know you can’t outrun a black bear. But their short, bulky appearance makes you believe they can’t run very fast. It may surprise you that a black bear can sprint up to 30 mph! Underneath that thick layer of fur is an impressive muscular build. They even keep their muscular form during their torpor or denning period. Scientists are still studying how bears avoid muscle atrophy during their months of inactivity. Research suggests they may reabsorb amino acids that form into muscle proteins, and they keep their muscles toned by shivering.
It may be terrifying to encounter a black bear in the wild, and your first instinct may be to run, but this would be a mistake. You can’t outrun a bear. If you do come across a black bear, remain calm. Try to make yourself as large as possible and slowly wave your hands over your head while calmly backing away.
5. They Are Amazing Climbers
The American black bear is the fastest and most agile climber of all bear species. They can climb a 100-foot tree in seconds! Their long, hooked claws allow them to dig into trees easily, and their muscular bodies propel them upwards at incredible speeds. A black bear will climb trees for safety, rest, play, and to find food.
Brown bears and other species of bear can climb trees but not as efficiently as black bears. Brown bear cubs are good climbers, but an adult brown bear is too heavy to climb more than a few feet. Brown bears also have long, sharp claws that make gripping tree bark difficult.
6. A Black Bear is Not Always Black
True to their name, black bears are most commonly black but can be brown, cinnamon, blue-gray, or white. The color of their fur depends on their geographical location. The black bears east of the Great Plains are mostly all black. When early settlers arrived in North America, these were the first bears they encountered, so they called them black bears. The melanin in the black fur makes the black bear resistant to abrasions from the thick eastern forests. Around 15% of black bears are brown in the states bordering the Great Plains. The white variation of the black bear is rare but has been seen in Minnesota.
7. They Are Solitary Animals
Black bears are solitary animals that spend much of their time alone. They can be seen in groups in berry patches or farm fields where the food is plentiful. In late spring and summer months, black bears can be seen in mating pairs, and it’s not uncommon to see a mother bear with her cubs.
Black bears are not territorial and do not defend a particular land area. Their living space is called a “home range” and includes miles of land where they have a variety of water and food sources. An adult black bear will cover about three to four miles a day when roaming his home range.
8. Black Bears Are as Smart as Primates
Bears are highly intelligent animals. They have the largest brain-to-body size ratio of all land mammals. Scientists compare a bear’s intelligence to that of higher primates. They are self-aware and have been seen hiding from predators and hunters. They have impressive memories, and their navigational skills top that of a human!
9. They Weigh Less Than One Pound at Birth
The American black bear’s mating season occurs in summer, but due to a process called “delayed implantation,” the embryos won’t develop until the denning period. The cubs will be born between January and February. A bear’s gestation period is about seven months. Cubs will be born hairless, toothless, and weigh less than one pound! They will spend the rest of the winter nestled by their mother, gaining the strength they need to leave the den in spring.
Once spring arrives, they weigh about five pounds, have grown a thick coat, and developed their baby teeth. For the next 18 months, they will remain under the care of their mother while she teaches them how to survive in the world around them. Black bears are great mothers!
