American Black Bear - Part 2

Ah! Sorry I'm so late with this blog, errands kept me out the entire day. No worries though, we're right back on track. Alright, let's get some more American Black Bear facts going:

What to black bears eat? You probably already know, like all bears, they are omnivores (they eat plants and animals.) The American Black Bear's diet is usually tilted towards the vegetation side since meat can be scarce, typically subsisting upon roots, tender plant shoots, budding tree twigs and various berries. Their protein is derived primarily from bugs such as beetles and the bee larvae found in honey (another well-known bear favorite.) When meat such as small mammals and fish are available, the bear will eat them but it is usually only if it is easily available. They will typically scavenge by picking through campsites, trash cans and road kill, which is the primary reason people encounter bears in the wild.

The American Black Bear has a diverse range of sizes. A full grown adult male can weight between 175-500 pounds, a female will weigh between 100-300 pounds. They will typically stand between 2-3 feet tall when they are on all fours and when stood upright, can reach 6 feet of height.

Black bears will mate during early summer. Female bears typically mature around 2-4 years of age. They will produce an average litter of 2 cubs every other year, which will be birthed in the middle of the winter season. These cubs will stay with the mother for a year. They are born completely blind and unable to walk. American Black Bears have very long lifespans in the wild, they can typically reach an age of 25-30 years of age, even going beyond that if held in captivity. Other animals held in captivity only have a lifespan of roughly 10 years.