In the southern latitudes bears tend to be active year-round while in the northern latitudes they undergo a period of seasonal dormancy in winter. In Southern California seasonal dormancy is less common than in nothern latitudes. The mild climate allows the bears to be active year round. Females, though, will den when pregnant. The females bear young beginning at 4 to 5 years of age.
Breeding occurs mainly in mid-summer.
Lactating females do not come into estrus, so breeding generally occurs every other year. Birth usually occurs in late January or early February. Their diet is typically determined by seasonal availability of food. In California, the black bear is a game mammal. In 1998 it was estimated that between 17,000 and 23,000 bears inhabited California.