Hello, ladies and gents, this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about
Black Bears
American black bear standing near a stream among fall foliage
The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is native to North America and is found primarily in Canada and the U.S., with a small population in Mexico. There are 16 subspecies which differ slightly in appearance.1 An estimated 600,000 to 700,000 adult black bears exist throughout their range, and they are not considered endangered.23
Black bears vary in size: males weigh from 100 to 900 pounds and females from 85 and 500 pounds. They measure between four and six and a half feet long from nose to tail. From their ability to pack away pounds for a long winter’s nap to their keen sense of smell, here are a few things you may not know about the American black bear.
1. Black Bears Are Impressive Climbers
Black bears are expert tree climbers. Their strong claws are built for climbing, and they can run up a tree with incredible speed. Female bears teach their cubs to climb at a young age, and often send them up a tree to escape from danger. Adult black bears continue to climb throughout their lives. They latch on with their front paws and use their back legs to walk up a tree. Black bears don’t turn around to go down a tree. They come down the same way they go up: back legs first.
When it comes to climbing, black bears have a distinct advantage. It’s not a good idea to try to climb a tree to escape a bear, as it can provoke them to chase and possibly attack.
2. They Are Fast Runners
Don't be fooled by their waddling walk. While they are notoriously slow, black bears can move quickly when necessary. Black bears can execute short and powerful bursts on flat land, uphill, or downhill in search of prey or to outrun danger. Though only for short distances, they can reach speeds of 25 to 30 miles per hour, faster than most humans, so do not attempt to outrun a bear.2
3. They Are Skilled Swimmers
Black bears aren't just swift on land — they're also proficient swimmers. They have no trouble swimming across rivers or lakes, and thanks to their powerful legs, they move through the water with ease and seem to enjoy it.
Depending on habitat, the water is also a source of food for black bears, and they teach their baby cubs to swim early.
4. They’re Not Always Black
Black bears have a bit of a misleading name. The species most often has a shaggy black coat, particularly in the eastern portion of its range, but not always. Black bears can also be brown, cinnamon, red, grey, tan, or blond. The individuals in the western portions of the range tend to be lighter in color.4 A small subspecies of black bears found only in coastal British Columbia known as Kermode bears or spirit bears are white.5
5. They Have Great Senses
Black bears have a keen sense of hearing and good vision, but their best sense by far is their sense of smell. With their oversized noses, bears have the ability to sniff out even the tiniest morsels of food. Because their sense of smell is so sharp, they easily find food discarded by humans and can detect the smell of food over a mile away.6 Their sense of smell also helps them identify danger and find a mate.
The hearing frequency of black bears is also superior to humans, and while their distance vision is not great, they have excellent eyesight at close range. Between their superior senses of smell and hearing, black bears usually notice humans before we see them.
And as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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