American black bears (Ursus americanus) aren’t always black, but their fur is usually a uniform color except for a brown muzzle and light markings that sometimes appear on their chest.
The smallest, yet the most common species of bear, is the black bear. At the shoulder, black bears are about 3 feet high and 5-7 feet high when standing upright. The weight of a black bear varies depending on their age, sex and time of year. Black bears can be up to 30% heavier in autumn than in spring. Adult black bears weigh between 100-600 lbs.
Black bears predominately live in forests and feed on fruit, nuts, shoots and other vegetation. The are only found in North America from Canada to Mexico.
Black bears are great tree climbers. Their large claws give them the ability to easily grip a tree trunk and tree branches protect bear cubs from predators.
On average, the lifespan of a black bear in the wild is 18 years, but the record is about 39 years.
