The Black Bear is the largest hunted animal in West Virginia. Black bears can be found in different sizes and weights. Bears are powerfully built animals. Adults stand about 30 inches at the shoulder and weigh from about 140-400 pounds. Rarely do they weigh over 600 pounds.
Males are heavier than females.
Bears walk in a shuffling flat-footed manner. Each foot has curved claws and 5 toes. Their top speed is 30 miles per hour over short distances. Black bears are good swimmers and good climbers. Black bears have an excellent sense of smell, but their vision is poor and their hearing is not that excellent.