|Black bears are the most common and widely distributed of the
three North American bears. Historically, black bears occurred
in all forested habitats in North America, including Mexico. The
species has been extirpated from many eastern and mid-western
states, but still occurs in 38 states, 11 Canadian provinces,
and seven Mexican states. In Arizona, the black bear is found in
most woodland habitats, including pinyon-juniper, oak woodland,
coniferous forest, and chaparral. An interesting footnote to
black bear distribution in Arizona is the absence of any
sizeable population of black bears north of the Colorado River.
Cubs are born during January in winter dens, usually in pairs,
but larger litters are not uncommon. The cubs are very small and
helpless at birth. Cubs emerge from the den in April and stay
with their mother through the first summer and fall, denning
with her their second winter. Female black bears in Arizona
usually reach reproductive age in their fourth year, and usually
breed every other year