Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Wild Black Bears

By: Tom Berg

At one time, black bears were fairly common throughout most of North America – at least in areas covered with forests. This included every Canadian province and every state (except Hawaii), and even included much of northern Mexico. Today, black bears are restricted mostly to areas where there is still dense, somewhat undisturbed forests.  Even so, in those areas where black bears are still present, they can be fairly abundant.

In my home state of Indiana, where black bears have been absent for more than 140 years, it is a very unusual occurrence when a bear wanders over the border from Michigan or Kentucky. But back in the 1830s and 1840s, thousands of black bear hides were shipped by fur traders from Indiana. One day bears may re-establish a population in Indiana, if enough forest habitat remains (like in the Hoosier National Forest).

In areas where black bears are still common, people must be careful to minimize conflicts with them. After all, black bears are wild animals. Bears are drawn to easy food sources, so never feed a wild bear. Also, be sure to keep pet food indoors and store garbage in proper containers. Don’t add meat to mulch piles, either, as this could attract bears and other animals.

Surprisingly, black bears are not always black. In fact, they can vary in color from jet black to dark brown, cinnamon brown, blonde and even white. It is estimated that only about 70% of black bears are actually black in color. In the western United States, that percentage diminishes to about 50% since many western bears are a light brown or cinnamon color.

Like most bears, black bears are opportunistic feeders. They are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Amazingly, as much as 85% of the black bear’s diet comes from plant matter. Black bears eat large quantities of grasses, buds, fruits, nuts, berries and seeds. Non-plant foods vary greatly, but insects make up a large portion of their animal diet. Grubs, ants and honeybees are favorite foods, and when a bee hive is found the bear is glad to eat the honey, too!

Have you had a great out experience? Join Global Outdoors and write a review to tell everyone about it! We’re building the home for trusted reviews of outdoor experiences, outfitters, and guides.