They are weaned by August. The mother bear must protect the cubs from adult males who will kill the cubs when small. The highest mortality for cubs occurs within 60 days of venturing from the den. They are subject to attack from male bears, bobcats, eagles and mountain lions. Females will not mate when traveling with cubs.
Black bears produce cubs every other year.
The cubs will stay with their mother from 1.5-3 years with female cubs lingering longer in their mothers home range. Sometimes siblings will travel together for a while after leaving their mother. Females are sexually mature at 3-5 years, males at 7. They undergo a deep sleep from which they can be woken easily. They may den for up to 7 months in colder areas or remain active all year long as they do in Florida and Alabama where the winters are milder.