The smallest and most widespread bear in North America, mostly living in forests. There are about twice as many as all other bear species combined.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Omnivore
Dangerous?Can be
It usually avoids people. Fewer than 36 human deaths were caused by black bears in the whole 20th century.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Day & night
Hibernates?Yes
It may even hibernate up a tree, and females give birth in January or February while hibernating.
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?In places
Hunted as a game animal in most of its range, partly for its meat and fat.
At a glance
Found inNorth America
HabitatForest, Mountains, Wetland
ColoursBlack, Brown
SizeLarge
Weight39–409 kg
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives alone
Lives for20 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- North America.
- What it eats
- An omnivore whose diet changes a lot with the season and place.
Did you know
One of the most tree-loving bears: it climbs to feed, escape danger and even hibernate.
Black bears are excellent swimmers, and swim for pleasure as well as to catch fish.
Often confused with
- Grizzly bear
The black bear is smaller than the grizzly, and one of the most tree-loving bears.
Compare side by side - Brown bear
Go by shape, not colour: a brown bear has a muscular shoulder hump; a black bear has none.
Compare side by side
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