The Bear ...

Nature's Beautiful Creation

"To enter the domain of another dominant creature, the bear, has the power to humble us and open our minds to the wonderment of our world."

- Don Middleton

"The mountains have always been here, and in them, the bears."

-Rick Bass

There are two types of bears native to the Pennsylvania Mountains ... The Black Bear and The Brown Bear. Both bears are a vital part of our ecosystem. When their population decreases, the effects soon become apparent. At the present time the black bear is stable with respect to population. Unfortunately, the brown bear population has significantly decreased in recent years. In 63% of the brown bear's habitat, they are considered a threatened species. The remaining portion of habitat sustains a group considered to be at high risk.

The bear is an intimidating creature to many people due to their ominous size and the numerous tales passed thru the succeeding generations. Even though bears are creatures of habit, they exude intelligence and each presents its own unique personality. The reaction of a bear is dictated by three primary factors: (1) its mother; (2) its own individual experiences, and (3) nature's provided instincts. The most vital sensory organ for the animal is its nose. A bear's hearing falls greater than that of a human, but less than a canine. The sight of a bear is comparable to that of a human.

Please click on the bar below to hear the roar of a bear.

Although they do not get along with each other, both the black and brown bears have similar lifestyles. It is quite common knowledge that the brown bear will kill and eat black bears. Black bears tend to favor forested habitats while brown bears enjoy open areas. Size of the "home range" is determined by the level of concentration of high energy food sources. Thus, the greater concentrated the food sources, the smaller the range needed to maintain the animal. The female black bear's home range averages 2.5 to 10 square miles while the male averages 10 to 40 square miles. Often times the home range of a male black bear will overlap the home range of several female bears. The female brown bear's home range is approximately 130 square miles while the male's range can be 521 square miles or more. Again, the male's range encompasses several females territories, too. Usually, the home range is composed of many food source areas connected by "travel lanes". The range areas must also incude rest areas and remote areas for shelter, protection, and denning.

In the spring bears come out of their dens. Males emerge first, followed by females, with new cubs being the last to exit the den. For the first few days they are lethargic, often sleeping near their dens and not eating. When they begin eating, they search for carrion (dead moose, deer, etc), roots, and emerging vegetation. In the early portion of summer, they feed on new grass and ferns. The moose, calves, deer, and small "critters" continue to be considered part of the menu when available. Fish are the most important food whenever available from June thru September. During late summer/early fall, bears ingest large amounts of fruit. This is the time of year when the bear is storing its final deposits of fat before their long winter naps.

Cubs are born in the den around January thru March. Black bear cubs reside with the mother for approximately 1 1/2 years with their sexual maturity reached at 2 years of age. On the other hand, the brown bear cub resides with the mother for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years with their sexual maturity reached between 4 and 8 years. Mating season occurs in the spring and both species have multiple mates. The bear's lifespan averages between 20 and 30 years.

The Black Bear, also known as the Ursus americanus

The black bear is the smallest and most abundant species in the U.S. They range approximately 5 to 6 feet in length and 2 to 3 feet in height at the shoulder area. Weight ranges from 200 pounds to 500 pounds. Commonly black in color, they can include brown (cinnamon) and occasionally gray (blue) and white. Their muzzles are almost always brown in color. Distinctive characteristics include a head shape where the nose is straight in profile, claws are curved and small, body shape with respect to a bear's derriere being higher than its shoulders when standing on 4 legs, and prominently visible ears. In Pennsylvania there is believed to be more than 7000 black bears. Often, a sow will encourage her cubs to climb into a tree when there is a danger present. The animal uses its front claws for climbing and keeping a hold. Being fond of honey, the black bear is often responsible for large amounts of damage to aphiaries each year. Liking to feed in the cool of the evening or in the early morning, the black bear will often seek shade in the dense underbrush during the day when it is hot. The black bear will usually avoid contact with humans whenever possible, unless it is cornered or protecting its young cubs.

The Brown Bear, also known as Ursus arctos

Also known as the Grizzly Bear, the brown bear is one of the largest of its species. They may range from 4 feet to 9 1/2 feet in length, stand 5 feet in height at shoulders, and weigh from 300 pounds to 1800 pounds. Colors of fur range from blonde to dark brown and appearance is long and shaggy. Often people think of the Grizzly Bear for it's aggressive nature, but it is referred to as that because of the "grizzling" of the fur, which gives it a lighter coloring at the tips of hairs. Brown bears appear with a heavy stout body with strong, muscular legs. Distinctive characteristics include the muzzle being the same color as its body, the nose is dish-shaped, the claws are straight and larger than the black bear's claws, the shoulders are higher than its derriere when standing on four legs, and the ears are rounded and significantly less prominent. Cubs often exhibit a white fur "collar" around their neck and shoulders. They are quick movers and can attain speeds of 35 mph for a short distance. The brown bear is often depicted as the "Teddy Bear" of children and collectors. At one time in history, the brown bear could be found throughout the North American continent. Unfortunately, excessive hunting and destruction of its habitat has caused a severe depletion of the creature. Presently, there are only between 40,000 and 50,000 brown bears across the entire North American continent.

The above information attempts to explain about a unique animal within our domain and hopefully dispel any myths which may have been passed thru the generations. Please browse thru the links I have gathered below to learn more about this fascinating and beautiful creature, The Bear.

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please email me so that I may remove them from the page.
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This Wild Animals of the World site owned by Debbie Lee Thomas.




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