American black bear

아메리카흑곰

North America's most common bear; despite its name, some are brown or cinnamon-coloured. It is an expert climber, and cubs scramble up trees at the first sign of danger. In winter it dens up and sleeps for months.

See it on the 3D globe →

At a glance

Class: Mammals
Lives in: Ozark Mountains, Arkansas, USA
Diet: Eats both plants and meat (omnivore)
Weight: about 100 kg
Length: about 1.6 m
Top speed: about 56 km/h
Lifespan: up to about 30 years
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN LC)
Habitat: forests, mountains

Quick answers

Where does the American black bear live?

It lives in forests, mountains. On the globe you can find it near Ozark Mountains, Arkansas, USA.

How big is the American black bear?

It grows to about 1.6 m and 100 kg.

What does the American black bear eat?

Its diet: eats both plants and meat (omnivore).

How fast is the American black bear?

It can reach about 56 km/h.

How long does the American black bear live?

It can live up to about 30 years.

Is the American black bear endangered?

It is listed as Least Concern (IUCN LC).

The American black bear is North America's smallest and most widely distributed bear. It lives mainly in forests across the continent. Experts estimate there are about twice as many of them as all the other bear species combined, so the IUCN lists it as Least Concern.

Despite the name, many are brown or cinnamon in colour. It is an omnivore, which means it eats both plants and animals, and what it eats changes with the season and the place. Black bears sometimes wander into towns because easy food is available, which is why people are asked to store food and rubbish safely.

What does it eat?

Black bears are not fussy. They eat grasses, fruit, nuts, honey, insects, fish and sometimes meat, and they may wander out of forests into towns to look for easy food. The Korean Wikipedia notes that they can also climb trees well and run at about 50 kilometres per hour. Since they are such good climbers, cubs scramble up trees at the first sign of danger. They eat all kinds of food: honey, insects, mushrooms, fish and fruit.

Not related to brown or polar bears

Genetic studies show that the American black bear is not closely related to brown or polar bears. It split from their shared ancestor about five million years ago, and its closest relative is the Asian black bear. In winter it dens up and sleeps through the coldest months. The bears' fur ranges from black to cinnamon, and in some places even white or bluish. Black bears are an important animal in many forests, helping spread seeds.

Fun facts

Despite its name, many American black bears are brown or cinnamon-coloured.
Black bears can be brown, cinnamon or black.
There are about twice as many American black bears as all other bear species together.
They can climb trees and run roughly 50 kilometres per hour.