They are found in Alaska, much of Canada and the United States, and extend as far south as northern Mexico. They mostly eat grasses, herbs and fruit, but will sometimes eat other things, including fish. American Black Bear Appearance. Bears who become habituated to human food at campsites, cabins, or rural homes can become dangerous and are often killed—thus the frequent reminder: Please don't feed the bears! They will also eat fish and mammals—including carrion—and easily develop a taste for human foods and garbage. Despite this, American black bears in those areas seem to have expanded their range during the last decade, such as with recent sightings in Ohio[25] and southern Indiana,[27] though these probably do not yet represent stable breeding populations. [4][page needed], A small primitive bear called Ursus abstrusus is the oldest known North American fossil member of the genus Ursus, dated to 4.95 mya. What does a COVID-19 outbreak mean for life at Everest’s base camp? Unlike female brown bears, female American black bears are not as protective of their cubs and rarely attack humans in the vicinity of the cubs. Adult males typically weigh between 57–250 kg (126–551 lb), while females weigh 33% less at 41–170 kg (90–375 lb). In southern areas, they may wake up in midwinter. American black bears are now considered highly efficient hibernators. The paws of the species are relatively large, with a rear foot length of 13.7 to 22.5 cm (5.4 to 8.9 in), which is proportionately larger than other medium-sized bear species, but much smaller than the paws of large adult brown, and especially polar, bears. It is smaller than the Grizzly Bear. The American Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) is a medium-sized bear native to North America. [39] Across its range, the greatest skull length for the species has been reportedly measured from 23.5 to 35 cm (9.3 to 13.8 in). American Black Bears are omnivores, and their diets vary greatly from time to time. [33][34], As of 1993, known Mexican black bear populations existed in four areas, though knowledge on the distribution of populations outside those areas has not been updated since 1959. Males might wander a 15- to 80-square-mile home range. Range: The American black bear is found only in North America. American black bears in the southern Appalachian Mountains survive in predominantly oak-hickory and mixed mesophytic forests. The overall population of American black bears in the United States has been estimated to range between 339,000 and 465,000,[32] though this excludes populations from Alaska, Idaho, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, whose population sizes are unknown. Contrary to what the name suggests, not all members of the American “Black” bear species are actually black in color. Unlike brown bears, American black bears frequently lose against wolves in disputes over kills. [115] Anecdotal cases of alligator predation on American black bears have been reported, though such cases may involve assaults on cubs. Black bears are strong swimmers and will often enter the water to hunt fish if available in their habitat. Claws from both hind and front legs are almost identical in length, though the foreclaws tend to be more sharply curved. • Ursus americanus in der Roten Liste gefährdeter Arten der IUCN 2008. [60] The North American Bear Center, located in Ely, Minnesota, is home to the world's largest captive male and female American black bears. Seasonally, tens of thousands of American black bears are hunted legally across North America, with many more being illegally poached or trapped. Originally ranging in forested areas throughout North America, black bears are now found primarily in the less settled, forested regions in twenty-three states, Canada and Mexico. The American black bear (Ursus americanus), is the only bear found in California.The California brown bear (Ursus arctos californicus), a subspecies of the brown, or grizzly, bear became extinct in the state around 1924.Although called the "black" bear, the color of these bears may range from blond to cinnamon to brown or black; on … This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. The coat of a Black Bear is shaggy and usually black but it can also be dark brown, cinnamon, or yellow-brown. [24], The current range of American black bears in the United States is constant throughout most of the Northeast and within the Appalachian Mountains almost continuously from Maine to northern Georgia, the northern Midwest, the Rocky Mountain region, the West Coast and Alaska. Latin Name: Ursus americanus Other Names: Black Bear Habitat and Range: Deciduous, Coniferous and open Alpine forests from Alaska, Canada, and the United States. [4][page needed] Once out of hibernation, mother bears may be able to fight off most potential predators. All provinces indicated stable populations of American black bears over the last decade. Livestock depredations occur mostly in spring. It is the continent’s smallest and most widely distributed bear species. California is thought to have the largest Black Bear population in the lower 48 states with … There are a total of 16 American Black Bear subspecies that have been recorded by taxonomists up to the present time. [4][page needed] American black bears living in areas near human settlements or around a considerable influx of recreational human activity often come to rely on foods inadvertently provided by humans, especially during summertime. [133] During the European colonisation of eastern North America, thousands of American black bears were hunted for their meat, fat and fur. [64] Despite their name, American black bears show a great deal of color variation. [2][8] The earliest American black bear fossils, which were located in Port Kennedy, Pennsylvania, greatly resemble the Asian species,[9] though later specimens grew to sizes comparable to grizzly bears. Theodore Roosevelt himself likened the flesh of young American black bears to that of pork, and not as coarse or flavorless as the meat of grizzly bears. [41] The average annual survival rate for adult American black bears is variable, ranging from 86% in Florida to 73% in Virginia and North Carolina. [128] It is not recommended to use unleashed dogs to deter bear attacks. [37], There are about 1,500 bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. [38], Throughout their range, habitats preferred by American black bears have a few shared characteristics. Approximately 70% of all American black bears are black, though only 50% of American black bears in the Rocky Mountains are black. The American Black bears are extraordinarily pliable and show a good variation in surround sorts, although they’re primarily found in wooded areas with thick ground vegetation associate degrees an abundance of fruits, nuts, and vegetation. The American black bear is smaller than the other bears present in North America. [24], There have been several sightings quite far away from where the American black bear is normally found, such as Union County, North Carolina[35][36] and western Nebraska. The sun is getting stormier—just in time for a total eclipse, CDC: Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks indoors, Why vaccine side effects really happen, and when you should worry, The Himalaya mountains are ‘breathing,’ geologists say, The Great Loop is the epic U.S. adventure you’ve never heard of, Dutch tulip farmers hope for a post-pandemic boom, See millions of years of history while beachcombing in San Francisco, Hiking a desert park? However, in current times, American black bear fatalities are overwhelmingly attributable to human activities. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)Also known as Black Bear or North American Black Bear Species Code: URAM What they look like: The American Black Bear is the most common bear native to North America. They have strong eyesight and hearing and an even better sense of smell. American black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. The black bear’s coat has lots of layers of shaggy fur, which keeps it warm in cold winter … in admiration for the American black bear's intelligence, would decorate the heads of bears they killed with trinkets and place them on blankets. The American black bear is not currently a species of conservation concern and even the formerly listed black bear of Florida and Louisiana is now increasing. [76] American black bear cubs tend to be more vulnerable to predation than adults. [4][page needed]. The American black bear is the mascot of the University of Maine and Baylor University, where the university houses two live American black bears on campus. American black bears on the East Coast tend to be heavier on average than those on the West Coast, although American black bears follow Bergmann's rule and bears from the Northwest are often slightly heavier than the bears from the Southeast. The main diet of these omnivorous animals consists of salmon, honey, fruit, small mammals and carrion. The American black bear’s diet consists mostly of insects like bees, yellow jackets, ants, and ant larvae. It´s scientific name used to be Euarctos americanus, but it´s current scientific name is Ursus americanus. [citation needed], Game animals and shooting in North America, Lisette Waits, David Paetkau, and Curtis Strobeck, "Overview" from, McLellan, B. N. (2011). [2][3][page needed] According to recent studies, the sun bear is also a relatively recent split from this lineage. 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