Bears

April 18, 2006

Bear Diet

Home Range

Reproduction

Hibernation

Bear Research

People & Bears

Classroom Activities

Links

Facts

References

The Bear Truth

• Bears can see very well and in color.
  
  
• A bear sometimes stands upright to see or smell scents carried by the wind, but rarely walks on its hind legs.
  
  
• Black bears can run faster than most humans.
  
  
• They seldom visit campgrounds unless careless campers leave food or garbage out.
  
  
• Bears who live far from humans are active in the morning and early evening, but rarely at night.
  
  
• Bears who live near humans prefer to avoid humans and so are more active at night.
  
  
• Black bears are beautiful creatures, but they are not lovable, friendly animals that we should approach in the wild.
  
  
• Bears rarely attack people. People who enjoy the outdoors are far more likely to have fatal encounters with lightning, snakes, or spiders.

What Kind of Bear is it?

Black Bear . . .

• 98% of diet is plants
• eats lots of insects
• captures elk & moose calves & deer fawns in spring does not kill larger ungulates
• profile of face is straight
• no hump between its shoulders
• average male weighs 250 pounds (112.5 kg) (220.5 kg)
• average height is 3 feet (0.9 m)
• average length is 4-6 feet (1.6-2.7 m)
• adults easily climb trees
• lives about 18-20 years, has been known to live to 30

. . . Grizzly?

• 90% of diet is plants
• eats insects captures elk & moose calves & deer fawns in spring
• capable of bringing down bull elk
• dished-in face with high brow
• hump between its shoulders
• average male weighs 490 pounds average height is 3-5 feet (0.9?1.5 m)
• average length is 7-10 feet (2-3 m)
• adults seldom able to climb trees
• lives about 25 years