Mammals · Carnivora · Ursidae

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It gives birth to the smallest young of any placental mammal relative to adult size, a consequence of the birth happening during hibernation.

Weight

40 kg – 300 kg

Size

1.3 m – 1.9 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestOmnivore Variable activity Solitary Temperate forest Mammal

3countries 41parks8same family

Fun facts

Through hibernation the mother neither eats, drinks nor urinates for months.
It feeds on emerging plants, fruit, nuts, insects, carrion and occasionally small ungulates.
It lives in forests across much of North America, from Mexico to Canada.
anatomíaDespite its name its coat comes in a range of colours, including brown and cinnamon and, in particular Canadian populations, an unusual creamy white (the spirit bear).

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Forests across much of North America, from Mexico to Canada
Birth weight: 200-450 g at birth, the smallest newborn relative to adult size of any placental mammal
Size at birth: 200-450 g at birth
Sexual maturity: Female: 2-9 years
Gestation / incubation: ~220 days with delayed implantation (only 10 weeks of active embryonic development)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 5 young per litter (most commonly 2-3)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 40-45 years

Sources consulted: iNaturalist; BioKIDS; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); International Association for Bear Research and Management; Dimensions.com; A-Z Animals; Britannica