Color is not a distinguishing characteristic for the black bear. Phases of the black bear can be cinnamon, black, blonde, and even blue. Black bears differ from brown bears in several ways: they lack the shoulder hump, have a longer snout, and generally have shorter front claws. The weight of the black bear varies from 125 to 500 pounds, depending greatly on environmental conditions such as climate and food availability. In general, the length of a black bear is five feet long and 35-40 inches tall when on all four feet. Black bears have been recorded to reach speeds over 25 miles per hour for a short distance.
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