Black Bears

The Black bear, or Ursus americanus, is the most common species of bear in North America. If you go camping in the United States, Mexico or Canada and you see a bear, chances are you’re looking at a black bear.

Compared to other American bears, black bears are smaller and more agile, usually weighing from 150-300 pounds, though they can weigh much more. While they are often black, black bears also come in dark brown and even grayish shades. They are almost always smaller and less furry than their brown bear cousins, and lack the distinctive shoulder hump of the grizzly.

Like most bears, the black bear is an omnivore and will eat virtually anything it can get its paws on, though black bears tend to eat more vegetation than their cousins. Roots, seeds, grasses, berries, leaves, twigs, sometimes even bark and the inner parts of trees will make up most of the bear’s diet throughout the year. Black bears will also eat a variety of insects, smaller mammals, and are good at catching fish.

Black bears are not particularly aggressive or violent towards people. In many areas, bears are actually quite tame and unafraid of us, and will even be found begging for scraps along the sides of roads. Though their vision is only average, they have an amazing sense of smell, and have a knack for getting into places they shouldn’t be, like cars, gardens or dumpsters.

If you are going to be camping in an area where there are black bears, just make sure you don’t leave any food in a place you wouldn’t want a bear to get to. For example, never store opened food items inside your tent. Any food items that are exposed to the sense of smell should be kept tightly sealed, hung from a tree, or at the very least a good distance away from your campsite.

For the most part bears will keep their distance from people, but when humans are not looking, they may creep closer and closer to get a better look and smell for food. As soon they are noticed, they will normally run away.

Although black bears are generally harmless, they are certainly capable of causing great bodily injury if they feel threatened or are very hungry. It is never a good idea to approach a bear; and most importantly, if you see bear cubs you should stay far away – mother bears are fiercely protective of their babies.

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Article by Joanne from Greyt Inspirations

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