American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
Despite their name, American black bears can be cinnamon, blue-gray, or even white in color depending on their region.
- Scientific name
- Ursus americanus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Carnivora › Ursidae › Ursus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Densely forested areas with thick undergrowth, including coniferous and deciduous woods, swamps, and mountain slopes.
- Diet
- Omnivorous: primarily berries, nuts, and vegetation, supplemented by insects, fish, and occasionally small mammals or carrion.
- Range
- Canada, United States, Mexico
- Size
- 1.2 to 2 meters in length; weights range from 60 to 270 kg
- Lifespan
- 20-30 years in the wild
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and human-wildlife conflict due to attractants like garbage.
- Safe to approach?
- Generally shy and defensive. Maintain a distance of at least 100 yards. If you encounter one, do not run; speak in a calm, low voice and back away slowly. If the bear approaches, stand your ground, make yourself look large, and shout. If attacked, fight back with any available tools or limbs; do not play dead with black bears.
The American black bear ( Ursus americanus ) is a medium-sized bear native to North America.
Photo: Jay Pruett, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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