|
|||||||
My LinksEcologyFood Web |
Ursus americanus |
Physical DescriptionTrue to their name, black bears have shaggy black fur, although some species are known to have brown, blond, or even white fur. They also have a brown muzzle, dark brown eyes, and non-retractable claws. The bear’s skin is a light gray. Males grow to about five or six feet from nose to tail, and 250-600 lbs. Females are smaller, adults measuring four to five feet from nose to tail, and 100-400 lbs.Diet and Feeding HabitsThe black bear eats a variety of things. It is omnivorous, meaning it doesn’t just eat meat, like a carnivore, and it doesn’t just eat vegetation, like a herbivore. It eats both meat and vegetation. Nesting birds, penned livestock, fish, blueberries, corn, honey, acorns, greens, and insects are all part of a black bear’s diet.ReproductionAdult bears don’t tolerate other bears, except for mating. The breeding season for black bears is May through August in Maine. Adults are mostly solitary, and they will travel to find a mate. Males are sexually mature at 1-2 years old, but don’t breed until they’re 4-6 years old. Females are sexually mature at 3-5 years old. In the northeast states, bears tend to give birth to 1-3 cubs, but 4 is not unusual.HabitatThe black bear is very adaptable, but is usually found in habitats such as swamps, forests, or back country.Role in the EcosystemThe black bear plays an important role in its ecosystem due to its effects on population of insects and fruits. The bear is at the top of the food chain, and will eat almost anything. It is omnivorous, meaning it eats both meat and vegetation. They forage when looking for meat, usually preying only on animals that are readily caught because of age, weakness, illness, or injury. Their predators include other black bears, grizzly bears, and humans. Coyotes and mountain lions may also prey on cubs. The black bear’s black fur and brown muzzle help it with camouflage in its environment. The black bear hibernates. This means that it is dormant for all or most of the winter months. In the fall, it gathers food, then the bears enter their dens in mid-November, not to emerge until sometime in the spring. Humans are the black bear’s biggest threat. They can live up to 32 years in the wild, but most are killed by human-related causes long before that age. This bear is very dexterous, which allows it to climb trees when evading danger.Bibliographywww.maine.gov/sos/kids/allabout/wildlife/blackbear.htmwww.maine.gov/ifw/hunttrap/hunt_management/blackbear.htm www.bear.org/black/Black_Bear_Facts.html http://nationalzoo.si.edu/publications/zoogoer/1999/2/fact-americanblack.cfm www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/black-bear.htm |
Black Bear