Habitsblack bear Habits Black bears are generally solitary animals, each having an individual territory. Home ranges may overlap, but a small core area is usually maintained by each bear as its exclusive domain. Infringement on that area by another bear often results in serious threats, possibly a battle. Males have significantly larger ranges than females, and often move throughout the territory of one or more female bears. Adult females occasionally share their ranges with female offspring who take over the area if the mother dies.
Bears are able to recognize another's territory by certain signs such as scent or droppings.
Tree marking also is a sign of territoriality. Black bears often leave heavy claw marks on trees as high as they can reach, and sometimes bite or scratch the bark off. The size of the home range is influenced by the availability of food and the number of bears in a locality. In the Northwest Territories, black bears probably have ranges from 75 to 200 square kilometres. Occasionally groups of bears congregate in the same area.