ANIMAL INFOGRAPHICS: BLACK BEARS

Learn about one of North America’s favorite furballs, the mighty black bear. Check out this infographic for information on the mammal’s diet, habitat, what to do if you meet a black bear and some fun facts.

What’s in the infographic:

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BLACK BEARS

Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) exclusively belong to North America. This powerful, yet charming creature is the smallest of the continent’s three bear species AND by far the most common.

HABITAT

Hardwood forests & coniferous forests
Prefer dense foliage for cover, warmth & bedding
Very territorial – will scratch trees with their claws to mark dominance
Throughout their lives, females may travel 2-6 miles, while males may move up to 15 miles

DIET

75% of diet is vegetation
Favorites: berries, roots, buds, fruits, insects & larvae
Remainder of diet includes bird eggs, fish, small mammals and carrion
They love honey & will gnaw through tree trunk to find beehives

FACE-TO-FACE

Black bears are usually shy & won’t attack unless feeling threatened
If you find one in the wild:
- Do NOT run
- Shout and make yourself known
- If the bear attacks, do not play dead, instead fight back and scare the bear away
Do not approach a bear cub, mama is probably nearby

FUN FACTS

Can reach running speeds up to 35 mph
Average lifespan is 20 to 35 years
Compared to humans, their eyesight is 2x better and their hearing is 100x better
Do not hibernate and instead enter a state of dormancy called torpor and only leave their shelter on warmer days to find food
May lose up to 30% of weight during torpor