Identification | Biology | Damage ID | Management | Handling
(Ursus americanus).
Identification
Black bears (Ursus americanus) are the smallest and most widely distributed of the three species of bears in North America. They are massive, strongly built animals.
Legal Status
Black bears are protected by federal and state laws and regulations throughout their range.
Physical Description
Black bears that live east of the Mississippi River predominantly are black, but in the Rocky Mountains and westward, shades of brown, cinnamon, and blond are common. The head is moderately-sized with a straight profile and tapering nose. The ears are relatively small, rounded, and erect. The tail is short (three to six inches) and inconspicuous. Each foot has five curved claws, about one inch long, that are non-retractable. Bears walk with a shuffling gait but they can be quite agile and quick.
It is important to distinguish between black bears and grizzly bears (also called brown bears). Guard hairs of grizzlies have white or silver tips, giving the bears a frosted or “grizzly” appearance. Grizzly bears have a pronounced hump over the shoulder, a shortened, often dished face, relatively small ears, and long claws. Adult black bears weigh 100 to 400 pounds and measure 4 to 6 feet in length. Some adult male black bears weigh over 600 pounds. Grizzly bears typically are much larger than black bears, ranging from 400 to 1,300 pounds.
Species Range
Black bears historically ranged throughout most of North America, except for the desert southwest and the treeless barrens in northern Canada. They still occupy much of their original range, with the exception of the Great Plains, Midwestern states, and parts of the southeastern coastal states . Distributions of black and grizzly bears overlap in the Rocky Mountains, Western Canada, and Alaska.
Voices and Sounds
Bears normally are silent when traveling. They emit grunts with young and may blow and click their teeth if they are upset. Females use loud, staggered grunts to threaten males that are unwanted. Bears utter moans as a submissive behavior.
Tracks and Signs
Image by Dee Ebbeka.
Tracks of bears are recognized by their shape and size. The tracks are dimorphic, with the front foot rarely showing the heel. Front feet average 4½ inches in length and 4 inches in width. Rear feet are 7 x 3½ inches.
Acknowledgements
Information on this species is based on the chapter in Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage (Hygnstrom, Larson, Timm, ed. 1994), written by Scott Hygnstrom (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).