### animal | vertebrate | mammal | bear:

Black bear
* All black bears are agile tree climbers
  - can climb well
* Many black bears move to grassy south-facing hillsides as soon as they emerge.
* Most black bears adapt to conditions
  - different conditions
  - tundra
  - are black in color or a darker shade of brown
  - avoid confrontations
* Most black bears eat berries
  - hawthorn berries
  - vegetation
  - enter dens
  - establish ranges
  - feed on nuts
* Most black bears have a splash of pure white on their chests
  - brown noses and a white patch on their chest
  - eyesights
  - good eyesights
  - long claws
  - senses
  - toes
* Most black bears live for years
  - in wood
  - occupy states
  - produce offspring
  - rely on food sources
* Most black bears rely on other sources
  - such food sources
  - such sources
  - reside in territory
  - show variation
  - spend the winter in dens, typically in the base of a rotted fir tree
* Most black bears stand on hind legs
  - survive winter
  - thrive in habitats
  - try to avoid confrontations when given a chance
  - vary in color
  - weigh pounds
* Some black bears are brown or cinnamon
  - classified as concern
* Some black bears drink gallons
  - several gallons
  - eat plants
* Some black bears have a white chest patch
  - few natural predators
  - patches
* Some black bears have short claws
  - strong claws
  - inhabit historic ranges
* Some black bears kill deer
  - trees
  - live in safety
  - move from habitats
* Some black bears prey on beavers
  - survive for months
* adapt readily to areas occupied by humans and are seen more frequently than grizzlies.
* appear awkward as they shuffle along, but can move with amazing speed when necessary
  - heavy and have short, powerful legs
* are Virginia's largest land mammal.
* are a significant predator on moose calves until calves are nine weeks old
  - wild animal
  - about two metres tall
* are abundant here
  - in forests and grizzly bear inhabit the open tundra
  - active primarily during the day and at dawn and dusk
  - actually quite healthy and long-lived animals which thrive in Wisconsin
  - adaptable and opportunistic
  - adapted for forest life and have short strong claws for climbing
  - agile runners, able tree climbers and strong swimmers
  - all American
* are also active in the forest and open areas
  - more common due to terrain and road access
  - opportunistic, meaning they take advantage of whatever is available
  - among the wildlife seen along kayaking routes in Glacier Bay
  - an intelligent and adaptable species
  - around Jenny lake and also off the main road
  - capable of covering great distances and often move during the evening hours
* are common in the backcountry, but they usually avoid people
  - region
  - upper valley, but there is no grizzly habitat
  - common, as are moose
  - considerably smaller than grizzlies in size and weight
* are creatures of opportunity when it comes to food
  - with it comes to matters of food
  - dangerous to humans
  - difficult to census because they are shy and secretive
  - eccentric creatures mysticized by fairy tale and folklore
  - especially dense here
  - essentially solitary
  - everywhere
* are excellent climbers, so trees offer no refuge
  - tree climbers, even as cubs, and use trees to escape danger
* are extremely fond of garbage and frequently congregate at dumps
  - fairly common in the North Cascades, but grizzlies are much rarer
* are generally easy to frighten away
  - shy and secretive and usually fearful of humans
  - solitary creatures
* are good fishers, often wading into rivers or lakes to catch fish with their jaws
  - swimmers and good climbers
  - highly curious, very intelligent, mobile, and adaptable animals
  - huge, bulky mammals with long black hair
  - impressive animals
  - intelligent and curious
  - large enough to survive a long swim in the cold waters of Lake Superior
  - large-bodied animals that have a small, narrow head, powerful limbs, and small ears
  - less frequent, but are still be seen on occasion while hiking the backcountry
  - more active during daytime
  - much more likely to turn tail in a surprise encounter and run
  - native to North America
  - near the top of the food chain
* are normally shy, but they can also be curious, bold opportunists
  - very shy of people
  - omnivores with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location
  - omnivores, so they eat plants and animals
  - omnivorous and opportunistic feeders
* are one of the more common species in North America
  - parks most famous inhabitants
* are opportunistic feeders, making use of just about any available food source
  - foragers
  - powerful mammals that have few naturally-occurring enemies
  - present in the forest, with hundreds of sightings each year
  - primarily nocturnal, especially when they are in close contact with people
  - protected by laws, but are hunted for sport in some states
* are relatively docile animals, particularly when compared to grizzly bears
  - shy animals
  - reluctant to move away from forest cover, especially if with cubs
  - shy and normally avoid people
  - similar
  - smaller than grizzlies or polar bears and have more pointed heads
  - solid animals and it takes a good bullet to punch into the vitals
* are solitary animals that wander all their lives in search of food
  - solitary, except for mothers with offspring
  - still present but are under increasing pressure from the loss of suitable habitat
  - stocky, with powerful legs, and short tails
* are strong and fast
* are the largest mammals living in the forests of North Carolina
  - most abundant of the species of bears
* are the most common and generally the smallest of North American bears
  - large carnivore in North America
  - widely found and most numerous kind of bear in North America
  - only bear species that can be found in the wild in New York State
* are the only kind of bear found in Southern Arizona
  - that live in Arizona
  - second largest mammal in New York State
  - smallest, and most abundant of the bear species in Alaska
  - typically non-aggressive and tend to avoid people
  - ubiquitous
* are usually black in color, particularly in eastern North America
  - nocturnal, but can be active during the day
* are very intelligent
  - powerful and can kill animals as large as a cow with one swipe of a paw
* are, on average, smaller than brown bears.
* can actually range in coat colour from jet black to creamy white
  - also be rusty brown or blonde colored
  - be blond, cinnamon, brown or black
* can be brown, blonde, cinnamon or black
  - red, yellowish, and honey in color
  - especially troublesome
  - become a nuisance, particularly for people who live near prime bear habitat
  - go surprisingly deep into caves to find good den sites
  - look deceptively large
  - move great distances and young males often disperse the farthest
  - swim to island campsites
  - weigh several hundred pounds
* climb easily and swim well
  - right up into the trees to get the beechnuts
* come into contact with more humans than almost any other species of bear.
* consume berries in late fall.
* destroy hives in their quest for honey.
* do compete with cougars over carcasses
  - indeed come in various shades of brown
  - live in the area but they only become a problem when someone leaves a messy campsite
* eat a diet that is mostly plants
  - almost anything
  - berries, grass, roots, fish, carrion, and whatever mammals they can catch
  - mostly nuts, berries, and other fruit
  - the fruit
* emerge wearing swimsuits.
* end their winter sleep and leave their dens.
* exhibit several remarkable adaptations.
* faces slope downward gently into the muzzle.
* favor beehives and ripening oats.
* fear nothing but they always seem to prefer to avoid confrontation.
* feature prominently in the stories of some of America's indigenous peoples.
  - salmon to build fat reserves before hibernating for the winter
  - primarily on natural foods such as acorns and berries
* frequent both canyons
* give birth every other year
  - to between one and four cubs, with two being the most common
* have a Roman nose and curved claws
  - heavy rounded body which belies their agility and speed
  - keen sense of smell
  - lumbering walk, but they can run much faster than people
* have a natural fear of humans
  - relatively straight profile from the forehead to the tip of the nose
  - round and short body with sturdy legs
  - unique reproductive cycle
  - amazing abilities to find their way across large distances
* have an acute sense of smell, but their vision is poor
  - outstanding sense of smell, but absolutely lousy sight
  - blocky bodies built for strength, carrying fat, and conserving heat in winter
  - five toes, with claws, on the feet
* have many color variations, including brown and cinnamon colored coats
  - talents
  - short curved claws and lack a shoulder hump
  - short, curved claws better suited to climbing trees than digging
  - shorter, more curved claws
  - small eyes, long noses, round ears and a short tail
  - terrific noses
  - their own unique set of food-gathering adaptations
  - very poor eyesight but their senses of smell and hearing are well-developed
* hunting in Idaho still allows for use of bait, hounds and spring as well as fall seasons.
* inhabit all areas of the park
  - most of Alaska's forests
* leave their scent markings with claw marks on nearby trees.
* like to climb trees and usually do if they are being chased or hunted.
* like to feed early in the morning or evening while it is cool
  - in the cool of the evening or in the early morning
  - here among coatimundi, javelina, and mountain lions
* live in North America
  - area forests
  - heavily wooded areas
  - many large wooded areas of North America
  - on the south side of the refuge
* love people food
  - sweet ripe corn and honey
* make a variety of grunts when they are relaxed.
* possess non-retractable curved claws on each foot that are about one inch long.
* prefer areas with natural foods close to water and heavy forested cover
  - dense forests that offer shelter and a variety of food
  - large, forested areas
  - to feed in seclusion and often drag their prey to cover
  - wooded cover and usually avoid open areas
* produce cubs every other year
* range in color from black and dark brown to cinnamon or even blond.
* rely on other such food sources
* reproduce at a very low rate.
* require a large area encompassing a few square miles
  - forested areas to find adequate food, water and cover
* roam the beaches at low tide, foraging on intertidal life
  - wooded trails and moose thrive on the abundant water plants
* seek food with the highest nutritional and protein value for the least amount of effort.
* spend considerable amounts of time foraging for food
  - their winter months in hibernation
* stand around three feet tall at the shoulder
  - five to six feet long and almost three feet at the shoulders when on all fours
* survive by being ready to flee, often to a tree
* swim well and often climb trees to feed on buds and fruit.
* tend to be solitary animals, with the exception of mothers and cubs.
* to find food.
* use dense cover for hiding and thermal protection, as well as for bedding.
* vary considerably in size, depending on the quality of the food available.
* vary in color from black to brown, cinnamon, blue and even white
  - tan or brown to black
  - size and weight, with males generally being larger than females
* walk flat-footed and are known as plantigrades.