Description:  The Black Bear is a large animal.  They have long fur ranging in color from black to a cinnamon brown.  In some northwestern areas they may also be almost white.  They are about five feet tall when grown and weigh about three hundred pounds. A full grown black bear’s shoulder height ranges between 36 to 41 inches. The female will weigh in between 150 and 250 pounds where as the male can weigh in anywhere from 200 to 600 pounds.

Habitat:  Black Bears are common in the northern wilderness areas. They typically like to live in heavily forested areas away from people. They are territorial and usually occupy an area of 8 to 10 square miles.  In less populated places they may occupy over 15 square miles.  The black bear can live up to 25 years in the wild and are shy and easily frightened.

Reproduction: Females reach sexual maturity at three to four years of age and males a year or so later. Mating takes place in June, July, and August, and pairs may remain together for only a few hours or for several days. Pregnancy last s about 220 days, and the cubs are born in the den in January and February. Litter size ranges from one to five, but two is the average. Cubs may be weaned at six to eight months, but they remain with their mothers for a year and a half. Normally female black bears will mate every two years. Longevity in the wild is 20 to 25 years.

Diet:  Bears are omnivorous.  They eat anything they can get their paws on.  Although they will hunt, they most often eat grasses, berries, roots, insects especially ants and carrion.

Trivia:

Bears sleep up to 126 days out of the year.  This sleep is called hibernation.  It is an adaptation to allow bears and other animals to survive through the winter when food is scarce.  Mother bears often have their babies while they are hibernating.