Category Archives: Black Bear
Cub Survival in Litters of 1,2 3, or 4
What size litter contributes the highest number of surviving cubs to the next generation? In northeastern Minnesota, it is litters of three. The litter size (3) that contributed the highest…
Can Malnourished Black Bears Reproduce?
Malnourished black bear females do not successfully reproduce. Their offspring are absorbed in utero, are stillborn, or starve from lack of milk. In northeastern Minnesota, black bear females reproduce best…
Classification of Black Bears
Ursus americanus Kingdom: Animal Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria Order: Carnivora Suborder: Fissipedia Family: Ursidae Subfamily: Ursinae (all living bears except giant panda and the spectacled bear)…
Vegetation – the Dietary Mainstay
Green vegetation and flower parts are important foods in northeastern Minnesota from spring to fall. In April, flower parts of aspen, willow, maple, ash, and hazel are the main foods….
Preparations for Birth
Getting fat is the most important preparation for birth.After mating in late May or June, pregnant females focus on eating for the rest of the summer. Females that don’t become…
Digging a Den
Before researchers from the Wildlife Research Institute videotaped 3-year-old June digging this den in Eagles Nest Township, Minnesota, they had no idea some bears made dens so early—July 19, 2004….
Bear Tracks and Trails
Bears walk on the soles of their soft feet, so they often do not leave distinct tracks unless they walk through soft mud or snow. Bears have 5 toes on…
Do Black Bears Hibernate?
Short answer: yes. When people defined hibernation simply in terms of temperature reduction, bears were not considered hibernators. However, when biologists discovered the many metabolic changes that let black and…
Heat Loss in Dens
In 2003, the BBC phoned researchers for help with a documentary using new thermal imaging technology. The telephone conversation sounded something like: BBC: “We’re looking for someone dumb enough to…
Scat / Droppings
People are always surprised to find that black bear scats do not have an unpleasant smell if the bears ate only fruit, nuts, acorns, or vegetation. In those cases, the…
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that relies entirely on the support of visitors, merchandise sales and people like you. We do not receive any state or federal funding.
Help support our mission.
Donate Now