American Black Bear

The American black bear is a forest-associated bear native to North America, with a flexible diet of berries, nuts, insects and other available foods. Its coat can be black, brown or other shades, so color alone does not reliably identify the species. Strong claws help it climb trees and search for food. Females raise cubs without a resident adult male, and many populations spend winter in dens. Seasonal abundance of fruit, nuts and other foods shapes where bears forage.