American Black Bear Scientific Name: Ursus americanus americanus
Except for mothers and cubs, American black bears are solitary
animals, and they wander across large, overlapping territories.
American black bears are the smallest and most prevalent of the
bears native to North America. American black bears consume
large amounts of food during the summer and fall, but they
aren’t “true” hibernators because their body temperatures don’t
drop dramatically, and they are still relatively alert. However,
black bears still don’t eat, drink, or excrete waste during this
time. STATUS: American black bears are listed as Least Concern
by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
HABITAT: American black bears live in various forests throughout
North America and are found in 41 of the 50 United States. They
mostly occupy temperate forests, but are also found in swampy or
mountainous forested areas. DIET: American black bears are
opportunistic omnivores with a flexible diet. They eat grasses,
fruits, berri