By their first fall the cubs may weigh from 15 pounds to more than 165 pounds, depending on food supply. Cubs usually stay with their mother for 17 months. Mother bears stop traveling with their cubs when the mothers are ready to mate again. Depending on food supply they may mate as young as 2 or as old as 11. Once females give birth, they generally have cubs every 2 years after that unless food is scarce.
Bears see in color and have good vision close-up.
Their distance vision is not known. Black Bears have a large brain compared to their size and are one of the more intelligent mammals. They have excellent long-term memory. Black bears make a variety of grunts when they are relaxed. When they are frightened they make a loud blowing noise.