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Contrary to common stereotypes these shy bears typically avoid humans.
photo: Tom Gillespie
Characteristics:This mid-sized bear has several color variations including chocolate brown, cinnamon brown, cream and blue. Black bears typically weigh 100-600lbs. While much of their original range has been taken over by human settlement, black bears once occupied forests, woodlands and wetlands across most of North Carolina.
Diet: Black bears are opportunistic feeders that eat what is easily available. Primarily vegetarian, they eat nuts, berries, acorns and grasses, roots, insects and grubs. Occasionally they feed on fish, carcasses and young mammals. All bears are tempted by food and trash left behind by humans.
Reproduction: Black bears exhibit delayed implantation, meaning the embryo does not attach to the uterus until the mother begins to hibernate. A litter of 1-4 tiny, hairless cubs is born in January or February, when the mother is still hibernating. Black bear cubs learn to find food and avoid danger in the year they remain with their mother.
Environmental Connections: Contrary to common stereotypes these shy bears typically avoid humans. Mothers with cubs are very protective but these are typically non-aggressive bears.
Bears should not be fed. These opportunistic feeders quickly learn to associate food with people. A fed bear often returns to developments, towns and campsites, leading to a dangerous situation for people and bears. Fed bears often become “nuisance bears” and are destroyed as a safety measure.
Black bears are threatened by habitat fragmentation. Without large, undisturbed natural areas bears cannot find adequate habitat, food and suitable mates. Many bears attempting to cross highways are killed in automobile collisions.
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N.C. Zoo is a member institution of AZA and an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr. Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor. A part of the North Carolina Government portal.
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