These discussions will hopefully bode well for the future of this animal. People have an opportunity to see brown bears in the wild but must respect this animal's position as the largest terrestrial carnivore in North America. Brown bears in the wild are formidable and unpredictable. Never approach wild bears, especially a female with cubs, and always pack food in bear proof containers or away from campsites when camping. Mother brown bear with her cub.
Cubs usually stay with their mother until they are about three years old.
The Wildlife Waystation presently houses five grizzly bears, from juveniles to a very old male that came to us many years ago from a wildlife park that closed down. During authorized tours the public has a chance to get up close and personal with this fabulous animal under supervised conditions. The black bear, Ursus americanus, is a wide-ranging North American bear with about sixteen recognized subspecies, including the Louisiana black bear, Ursus americanus luteolus, that is currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The North American black bear population is, generally, in fairly good shape with large distributions in the east, the west, and in Canada and Alaska. Black bears are smaller than their brown bear cousin, weighing in at typically 400-500 pounds for males and significantly smaller for females.