Black bears are predominantly black, but they also can be found in different colors. Some are black and brown with white noses or chests. They have thick fur so they won't get cold. Their thick fur also protects them from bee stings. They are one of the most common species of bears. Black bears are about 5 foot (1.5 meters) long, they weigh 200 up to 500 pounds ( 91 to 140- kilograms). They have the largest ears of any bear. A boar is a male black bear, sow is a female black bear
The black bears are omnivores. That means they eat meat and plants. They eat things such as mice, squirrels, pigs, lambs, ants, bird eggs, acorns, berries, fruits, nuts, leaves, roots, & honey. They love honey. Black bears will rip apart beehives and sometimes eat the bees. Also they wade into streams and catch fish with their front paws or use their strong jaws.
Female black bears usually mate only one to three times. Twins are most common in a litter. In September, femle black bears search for a nice den and then stay in it with out eating or drinking for 6 months during the coldest part of winter. The babies are usually born in January. Black bear babies weigh less then 1/2 pounds [226 grams] at birth. They have up to 1 to 5 babies. In March the baby's eyes open.
When the mom starts taking the babies outside she teaches them what they need to know. Sometimes they stand up to sniff the air for scents, both food and dangerous ones. When the mom feels like there is a threat, she will shoo her babies up a tree where they have to stay until it's all clear, sometimes for as long as 20 hours. The babies will have to leave their mother at the age 2 or 3.
Black bears live in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. They generally live in fields, forest, trees and by the streams. They can run 25 miles (40 kilometers) per hour.They stay close to trees and rarely leave their habitat. Usually travels the same routes within their territory. There are 75,000 of them in national forests of United States. Some states let people hunt the bears, a few don't. The states allow them to hunt a maximum of 25,000 bears a year.
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