American black bear
The bear you're most likely to meet east of the Rockies, a strong tree-climber that eats mostly plants and comes in black, brown, or cinnamon.
American black bear at a glance
Ursus americanus BLACK bair; Ursus americanus is UR-suss uh-mair-ih-KAY-nuss
- Type
- Mammal · bear
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Size
- A big male weighs about as much as a kitchen refrigerator (around 250 pounds / 113 kg in summer); females are lighter, a little over 100 pounds. Both can nearly double that weight by fall.
- Lifespan
- Around 12 to 15 years in the wild. Bears that learn to eat human food often live only half as long.
- Conservation
- Least concern
Eats berries, acorns, nuts, insects, roots, sometimes carrion
About 85% of a black bear's diet is plants — mostly berries, nuts, and acorns, plus insects it licks out of rotten logs. In late summer and fall it eats almost nonstop to fatten up, and it can nearly double its weight before winter.
Should you worry?
Black bears are usually shy and would rather leave than meet you. Give one at least 100 yards of room, never get between a mother and her cubs, and never feed a bear, on purpose or by leaving food out. In camp, lock food in a bear box or a car so a bear doesn't learn to come looking.
The black bear is the bear you are most likely to meet, and it is not always black. The same litter can turn out black, brown, or a reddish cinnamon. Forget the color and watch the shape: no shoulder hump, a straight snout, and short curved claws. Those claws are made for climbing, so a startled black bear often goes straight up the nearest trunk instead of running off across the ground.
Most of what a black bear eats is not meat. About four-fifths of its diet is plants (berries, acorns, nuts), with insects licked out of rotten logs for the rest. In fall it eats almost around the clock, packing on fat until it has nearly doubled its own weight, getting ready to sleep out the winter.
The Smokies hold roughly two bears in every square mile, which is about as many as black bears ever pack into one place. That means the food rules matter. A bear that finds a cooler or an unlocked car once will come back looking, and a bear that keeps coming back is a bear headed for trouble. So the food goes in the box, the box gets latched, and the bear stays busy with acorns instead.
Did you know?
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park has about two black bears per square mile, roughly 1,900 bears, one of the thickest black-bear populations anywhere.
- Newborn cubs are tiny, only 8 to 12 ounces, about the weight of a can of soup, and they are born in the winter den while their mother sleeps.
- Their short, curved claws and flat feet make them good tree-climbers, so a scared black bear often heads straight up a trunk instead of running.
Common questions
Are black bears dangerous to kids?
Rarely. Black bears almost always run from people. Keep at least 100 yards away, stay with a grown-up, never come between a mother and cubs, and keep all food locked up. Making noise on the trail lets a bear know you're coming so it can move off.
What do black bears eat?
Mostly plants, about 85% of their food, especially berries, nuts, and acorns, plus insects. They eat a huge amount in fall to store fat for winter.
Can black bears climb trees?
Yes, very well. Their curved claws and flat feet are built for it, and cubs often climb a tree to stay safe while their mother feeds nearby.
What should I do if I see a bear?
Stop, stay calm, and back away slowly while keeping the bear in sight. Do not run and do not feed it. Give it a clear path to leave.