Community Magazine March 2014

72 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE The American Black Bear The American black bear is the most common bear native to North America. These bears typically live in forests, but are also found in mountains and swamps. The coat of an American black bear is shaggy and usually black, but despite its name, it can also be blue-gray, brown, cinnamon, or even (very rarely) white. T he American black bear is about four to seven feet long, two to three feet high standing on its four legs, and weighs between 150-300 lb. It has small eyes, a long brown snout, rounded ears, a large body, and a short tail. It is an excellent tree climber, and despite its size, regularly ascends to the treetops to eat. Besides using its sharp claws to climb, it also uses them to rip open old logs in search of grubs and worms. American black bears are omnivores; they feed on many different types of food, including both plants and animals. They mainly feed on vegetation, but they use their great sense of smell to search out fruit, nuts, berries, honey, and roots. They will also eat fish, small mammals, and insects. American black bears are not true hibernators, but they are considered ‘highly efficient’ hibernators. They sleep for months without eating, drinking, or having to relieve themselves, but may wake up if disturbed. They enter their dens in October and November. Prior to that time, they can gain up to thirty pounds of body fat to help them get through the seven months during which they fast. Hibernation in black bears typically lasts three to five months. During this time, their heart rate drops from forty to fifty beats per minute to eight beats per minute. Their dens vary and can be in the form of caves, burrows, under logs or rocks, or even high above the ground inside of trees! In comparison to true hibernators, their body temperature does not drop significantly (around ten degrees lower), and they remain somewhat alert and active. If the winter is mild enough, they may wake up and forage for food. Females also give birth in February and nurture their cubs until the snow melts. American black bears are found in the forested areas of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Circle of Life Female black bears usually give birth to two cubs every other winter, although their litter can be as large as five. At birth, cubs weigh between 10-16 ounces and are born blind and helpless. They are not able to open their eyes until 28-40 days after birth and they do not begin to walk until five weeks of age. The mother nurses her cubs until spring, and then all emerge from their den in search of food. Cubs will remain with their mother for about two years to learn how to hunt and survive. American black bears live up to thirty-two years in the wild.