Scientific Name: Ursus americanus Adult Size: Length five-six feet; height (on all fours) two-three feet; weight 100-300 pounds (female), 200-700 pounds (male) Diet: Acorns, berries, carrion, corn, fish, frogs, fruits, grasses, grubs, honey, insects, larvae, nuts, peanuts, reptiles, roots, seeds, small
mammals, soybeans, and wheat Life Expectancy: four-five years Classification: Game Species (Big Game)
According to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the black bear is the only bear species found in North Carolina or anywhere in the eastern United States. Black bears were once restricted to remote areas and reached very low population levels in the mid-1900s. Today, black bears are found approximately 60% of the total land area of North Carolina. The black bear is an omnivore with a diet of both plants and animals. It varies in color: in North Carolina, the black bear is usually black with a brown muzzle and sometimes a white patch on its chest, commonly referred to as a chest blaze. In other areas of North America, black bears can be a very common brown color or a more rare blue and white. All bear species have five toes on each foot and each toe has a sharp curved claw enabling the bear to feed on insects and grubs in decaying logs. Black bears rely
mostly on their sense of smell and hearing due to poor eyesight, but are adept at climbing, running, swimming and digging. They have been clocked at speeds of 35 miles per hour over short distances. Bears put on additional weight in autumn to prepare for winter denning. They build dens in cavities of live trees, hollow logs, caves, rock outcroppings, cavities in the ground, or in a thicket. Usually, black bears construct nests of leaves, sticks, and grass within the den, which often resemble giant bird nests. In North Carolina, den entry can occur as early as November or as late as January, though male bears in the coastal plain region may be active throughout the winter. Most North Carolina bears emerge from their dens in March or early April, depending on the weather and mobility of their cubs. Source: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
WINTER 2025-2026
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