American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
The smallest and most widespread North American bear, a good tree climber that comes in black, brown, cinnamon, blonde and even white.
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About the American Black Bear
American black bears weigh about 100 to 500 pounds, making them the smallest of North America's three bears. Many are black with a brown muzzle, but they can also be cinnamon, brown, blonde, or even white or blue-gray in parts of Canada and Alaska. They have a straight face profile, no shoulder hump and curved claws for climbing. They live in temperate forests with thick undergrowth.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Ursus americanus[1]
- Weight
- About 100 to 500 pounds; females on the smaller side.[1]
- Lifespan
- About 25 years in the wild.[1]
- Diet
- Omnivore. Herbs, buds, leaves, nuts, fruit and animals, depending on season.[1]
- Habitat
- Temperate forests with thick undergrowth.[1]
- Where it lives
- Canada, the United States and northern Mexico.[1]
- Group life
- Solitary, except mothers with cubs.[1]
- Babies
- 2 or 3 cubs.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- apex predator
- An animal at the top of its food chain.
- scent-mark
- To leave a smell that tells other animals you were there.
- muzzle
- The nose and mouth area of an animal.
- temperate
- Having a mild climate, not too hot or too cold.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Oakland ZooOakland, California · California TrailSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Oakland Zoo. “American Black Bear.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/american-black-bear/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Ursus americanus (American Black Bear).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41687/114251609 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.
