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The American black bear Ursus americanus , or simply black bear , is a medium-sized bear endemic to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species. American black bears are omnivores , with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but will leave forests in search of food, and are sometimes attracted to human communities due to the immediate availability of food.
Despite the name, some subspecies can be brown or even blond in coloration. The International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN lists the American black bear as a least-concern species , due to its widespread distribution and a large population estimated to be twice that of all other bear species combined. Along with the brown bear Ursus arctos , it is one of only two modern bear species not considered by the IUCN to be globally threatened with extinction.
Despite living in North America, American black bears are not closely related to brown bears and polar bears ; genetic studies reveal that they split from a common ancestor 5. A small primitive bear called Ursus abstrusus is the oldest known North American fossil member of the genus Ursus , dated to 4.
The ancestors of American black bears and Asian black bears diverged from sun bears 4. The American black bear then split from the Asian black bear 4. The American black bear lived during the same period as the giant and lesser short-faced bears Arctodus simus and A.
These tremarctine bears evolved from bears that had emigrated from Asia to the Americas 7—8 mya. The American black bear's generalist behavior allowed it to exploit a wider variety of foods and has been given as a reason why, of these three genera, it alone survived climate and vegetative changes through the last Ice Age while the other, more specialized North American predators became extinct.
However, both Arctodus and Tremarctos had survived several other, previous ice ages. After these prehistoric ursids became extinct during the last glacial period 10, years ago, American black bears were probably the only bear present in much of North America until the migration of brown bears to the rest of the continent. American black bears are reproductively compatible with several other bear species and occasionally produce hybrid offspring.
According to Jack Hanna 's Monkeys on the Interstate , a bear captured in Sanford, Florida was thought to have been the offspring of an escaped female Asian black bear and a male American black bear. In the nine-year Report it is stated that the bears had been seen in the zoological gardens to couple freely, but previously to most had rarely conceived.
In the reports published since this date three species have produced young hybrids in one case , DNA testing was unable to determine whether it was a large American black bear or a grizzly bear. Sixteen subspecies are traditionally recognized; however, a recent genetic study does not support designating some of these, such as the Florida black bear, as distinct subspecies.
Historically, American black bears occupied the majority of North America's forested regions. Today, they are primarily limited to sparsely settled, forested areas. All provinces indicated stable populations of American black bears over the last decade.
The current range of American black bears in the United States is constant throughout most of the Northeast and within the Appalachian Mountains almost continuously from Maine to northern Georgia , the northern Midwest , the Rocky Mountain region , the West Coast and Alaska. Despite this, American black bears in those areas seem to have expanded their range during the last decade, such as with recent sightings in Ohio , [27] Illinois , [29] and southern Indiana.
Surveys taken from 35 states in the early s indicate that American black bears are either stable or increasing, except in Idaho and New Mexico. The overall population of American black bears in the United States has been estimated to range between , and ,, [35] though this excludes populations from Alaska, Idaho , South Dakota , Texas and Wyoming , whose population sizes are unknown. As of , known Mexican black bear populations existed in four areas, though knowledge on the distribution of populations outside those areas has not been updated since Mexico is the only country where the American black bear is classified as "endangered".
There have been several sightings quite far away from where the American black bear is normally found, such as Union County, North Carolina , [38] [39] and western Nebraska.
The population density is about two per square mile. They inhabit all elevations in the park. Throughout their range, habitats preferred by American black bears have a few shared characteristics.
They are often found in areas with relatively inaccessible terrain, thick understory vegetation and large quantities of edible material especially masts. The adaptation to woodlands and thick vegetation in this species may have originally been due to the American black bear having evolved alongside larger, more aggressive bear species, such as the extinct giant short-faced bear and the still-living grizzly bear , that monopolized more open habitats [42] and the historic presence of larger predators, such as Smilodon and the American lion , that could have preyed on American black bears.
Although found in the largest numbers in wild, undisturbed areas and rural regions, American black bears can adapt to surviving in some numbers in peri-urban regions, as long as they contain easily accessible foods and some vegetative coverage. In most of the contiguous United States, American black bears today are usually found in heavily vegetated mountainous areas, from to 3, m 1, to 9, ft in elevation.
For American black bears living in the American Southwest and Mexico , habitat usually consists of stands of chaparral and pinyon juniper woods. In this region, bears occasionally move to more open areas to feed on prickly pear cactus.
At least two distinct, prime habitat types are inhabited in the Southeastern United States. American black bears in the southern Appalachian Mountains survive in predominantly oak-hickory and mixed mesophytic forests. In the coastal areas of the Southeast such as Florida , the Carolinas and Louisiana , bears inhabit a mixture of flatwoods , bays and swampy hardwood sites. In the northeastern part of the range the United States and Canada , prime habitat consists of a forest canopy of hardwoods such as beech , maple , birch and coniferous species.
Corn crops and oak-hickory mast are also common sources of food in some sections of the Northeast; small, thick swampy areas provide excellent refuge cover largely in stands of white cedar.
Along the Pacific coast, redwood , Sitka spruce and hemlocks predominate as overstory cover. Within these northern forest types are early successional areas important for American black bears, such as fields of brush, wet and dry meadows , high tidelands , riparian areas and a variety of mast-producing hardwood species.
The spruce-fir forest dominates much of the range of the American black bear in the Rockies. Important non-forested areas here are wet meadows, riparian areas, avalanche chutes, roadsides, burns, sidehill parks and subalpine ridgetops. In areas where human development is relatively low, such as stretches of Canada and Alaska , American black bears tend to be found more regularly in lowland regions.
The skulls of American black bears are broad, with narrow muzzles and large jaw hinges. In Virginia , the total length of adult bear skulls was found to average to mm Their claws are typically black or grayish-brown.
The claws are short and rounded, being thick at the base and tapering to a point. Claws from both hind and front legs are almost identical in length, though the foreclaws tend to be more sharply curved. The paws of the species are relatively large, with a rear foot length of The hind legs are relatively longer than those of Asian black bears.
The vestigial tail is usually 4. The ears are small and rounded and are set well back on the head. American black bears are highly dexterous , being capable of opening screw-top jars and manipulating door latches. They are also capable of rapidly learning to distinguish different shapes such as small triangles, circles and squares.
American black bear weight tends to vary according to age, sex, health and season. American black bears on the East Coast tend to be heavier on average than those on the West Coast , although American black bears follow Bergmann's rule and bears from the Northwest are often slightly heavier than the bears from the Southeast.
In the state of California , studies have indicated that the average mass is 86 kg lb in adult males and 58 kg lb in adult females. The typically small tail is 7. The biggest wild American black bear ever recorded was a male from New Brunswick , shot in November , that weighed kg lb after it had been dressed, meaning it weighed an estimated kg 1, lb in life and measured 2.
Ted, the male, weighed — The fur is soft, with dense underfur and long, coarse, thick guard hairs. Individual coat colors can range from white, blonde, cinnamon, light brown or dark chocolate brown to jet black, with many intermediate variations existing. Silvery-gray American black bears with a blue luster this is found mostly on the flanks occur along a portion of coastal Alaska and British Columbia. White to cream-colored American black bears occur in the coastal islands and the adjacent mainland of southwestern British Columbia.
Albino individuals have also been recorded. Grizzly and other types of brown bears can be distinguished by their shoulder hump, larger size and broader, more concave skull. American black bears have better eyesight and hearing than humans. Their keenest sense is their sense of smell, which is about seven times more sensitive than a domestic dog's. They regularly climb trees to feed, escape enemies and hibernate.
Four of the eight modern bear species are habitually arboreal the most arboreal species, the American and Asian black bears and the sun bear, being fairly closely related. American black bears living near human habitations tend to be more extensively nocturnal , while those living near brown bears tend to be more often diurnal. American black bears tend to be territorial and non- gregarious in nature. However, at abundant food sources e. Annual ranges held by mature male American black bears tend to be very large, though there is some variation.
On Long Island off the coast of Washington , ranges average 5 sq mi 13 km 2 , whereas on the Ungava Peninsula in Canada ranges can average up to 1, sq mi 2, km 2 , with some male bears traveling as far as 4, sq mi 11, km 2 at times of food shortages.
American black bears may communicate with various vocal and non-vocal sounds. Tongue-clicking and grunting are the most common sounds and are made in cordial situations to conspecifics, offspring and occasionally humans. When at ease, they produce a loud rumbling hum. During times of fear or nervousness, bears may moan, huff or blow air. Warning sounds include jaw-clicking and lip-popping. In aggressive interactions, black bears produce "deep-throated pulsing" calls that may sound like growling.
Cubs squeal, bawl or scream when anxious and make a motor-like humming sound when comfortable or nursing. Sows usually produce their first litter at the age of 3 to 5 years, [46] with those living in more developed areas tending to get pregnant at younger ages. The breeding period lasts for two to three months. Both sexes are promiscuous.
Males try to mate with several females, but large, dominant ones may violently claim a female if another mature male comes near. The fertilized eggs undergo delayed development and do not implant in the female's womb until November. The gestation period lasts days and litters are usually born in late January to early February.
Litter size is between one and six cubs, typically two or three. They are born with fine, gray, down-like hair and their hind quarters are underdeveloped. They typically open their eyes after 28—40 days and begin walking after 5 weeks.
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