Credit: Robert Savannah, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Black Bear In Chapter 3 of The Incredible Journey, Bodger, the bull terrier, is attacked by a black bear cub. The bear strikes Bodger with his clawed paw, straddles him, and nibbles at the end of his tail. Bodger lays bloody, in pain, and nearly unconscious. Will he survive the bear attack? Will he be rescued? Read The Incredible Journey to find the answers to these questions. Learn more about the black bear below. |
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Description
The black bear is the smallest of bears. They grow about 5 feet long. They have small pointed heads. Even though they are called black bears, they can not only have black, but brown, gray, and even white in their fur. Black bears always have a tan nose. Their claws are shorter than other breeds of bears. This allows them to climb trees. Most bears can only climb trees when they are cubs. Most black bears weigh from 200 to 300 pounds. A large male bears can weigh up to 600 pounds.
Habitat
Black bears are most the common bear in the United States. They live throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. They hibernate in hollow logs or caves during the winter months. The black bear can climb trees.
Food
Black bears are meat eaters. They kill smaller animals for food and even eat animals which are already dead. The black bear is known for its sweet tooth. Bears love honey, blueberries, apples, and other fruits. They also will eat insects. Some black bears will wade into streams to catch fish. Black bears also eat bulbs of violets and lilies, wild onions, grubs, and ants. They will dig for mice and moles.
Young
Every winter the female black bear has two to three cubs. The father does not help with the cubs. The mother teaches her cubs how to hunt, swim, and climb trees. After a year and a half the cubs are ready to live on their own. There are about 75,000 black bears in the United States. In some states hunters are allowed to kill these bears.
Movement
Black bears can run up to 25 miles per hour.
