In North Carolina, black bears are now found only in the eastern coastal plain and in the western mountains. Some black bears weighing more than 600 pounds have been reported. The general coloration of the black bear is bluish black but occasionally they may be brownish or even cinnamon colored. The muzzle is brown and there may be a white patch on the upper region of the chest. The tail is short, the eyes small, and the ears are small and rounded.
Black bears walk flat-footed and are known as plantigrades.
Each foot is tipped by long, powerful, nonretractable claws. They avoid human contact and are not normally agressive towards people. Although they are classified as carnivores, black bears are actually omnivorous, eating many types of plant and animal material. Grasses, green leaves, and other plants are eaten by black bears in the spring after they emerge from their winter dens. Summertime provides them with various berries, fruits, and insects.