Category Archives: Black Bear
Why Do Bears Play?
Few animals play more than bear cubs do, but why they play remains a mystery. Scientists have suggested that young animals might play to: stimulate development of the brain increase…
Summer Beds
Bears generally bed away from people and other bears. In cold weather, especially in spring when the ground is still frozen, they insulate themselves from the ground by raking up…
How Do Black Bears Respond to Deer Flies and Horse Flies?
This black bear is trying to slap a deer fly (in the white circle). Deer flies and horse flies bite hard. Bears shake their heads when these flies bite their…
Scared Cubs and Crying Babies Sound Alike
Black bear cubs and human babies can sound enough alike to confuse both species. On August 7, 1990, a scared cub sounded so much like a person yelling “Help” that…
Scat Analysis Versus Walking With Bears
Scat Analysis For decades, Bear Center researchers analyzed thousands of bear scats to learn diet and how it varies with season and among years. The scats provided basic information, but…
Winter Dens
Bears den in a variety of places. If you suspect something is a den, look for a bed of leaves, although not all bears make beds if they den after…
Family Breakup
Black bear mothers give birth in January and stay with their cubs for 16-17 months. Family bonds remain strong right up to the day of family breakup. In the days…
Do Black Bears Growl?
Bear Center researchers are still waiting to find out. In over 40 years of capturing, observing, and confronting bears—and seeing the occasional fight—they have yet to hear their first growl….
How Do Black Bears Respond to Mosquitoes?
Black bears mostly ignore mosquitoes. They seldom bother to wipe mosquitoes off their faces. Fur usually prevents mosquitoes from reaching the skin except on the face, ears, and edges of…
Internet Hoax
Marc Falco, Open Season, June 8, 2003, Reprinted from The Standard Times, New Bedford, Massachusetts The Hoax Over the past few weeks, several well-meaning readers sent me an e-mail with…
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