American Black Bear

Ursus americanus · Mammal

The smallest and most widespread bear of North America, from Alaska and Canada to central Mexico, in thick-understoried forest, chaparral, swamps and subalpine meadows. A shy, clever climber that lives mostly on grasses, berries, nuts and insects, it sleeps three to eight months through winter. It usually bluffs rather than attacks, but bears fed by campers have badly hurt and sometimes killed people.

Danger

Can wound or kill

How it is met

Alone, at dawn and dusk

Size

Large

In winter

Sleeps through winter

Where it lives

Temperate Forest, Temperate Conifer Forest, Taiga, Alpine Meadow, Mediterranean Scrub, Swamp

Feeds on

Salal, Thinleaf Huckleberry

Gives

Black Bear Meat, Black Bear Fat, Black Bear Hide

Sources

• Christine Kronk; Tanya Dewey, Ursus americanus (American black bear). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, 2007.
• American black bear. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2026.
• Ours noir d'Amérique. Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre, 2026.

Open it in Biomes — MGS Toolbox