7 Interesting Black Bear Facts

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Did you know that black bears could actually be black, blue-black, cinnamon, brown, dark brown or even white in color? Read on for 7 more interesting facts about the black bear.

Fact 1 - Black bears use sounds to express a range of emotions. When they are relaxed they make a variety of grunting sounds and when frightened, they make a loud blowing noise.

Fact 2 - Black bears are excellent swimmers and can swim about 1-1/2 miles in fresh water.

Fact 3 - Contrary to popular misconception that black bears cannot run downhill, they are in fact very good runners and can run uphill and downhill as well as on flat ground equally fast. Lean bears are known to run at speeds exceeding 60 kilometers per hour, which is way faster than any Olympic sprinter.

Fact 4 - A black bear standing on its hind legs is not about to charge; it is merely attempting to see and smell whatever it is that has piqued its curiosity.

Fact 5 - Black bears are very intelligent animals. They have outstanding long-term memory and their navigation ability is considered superior to that in humans. They are all individuals and often share friendships, security and resources.

Fact 6 - Black bears are in fact gentle and tolerant animals that can be empathetic, playful, joyful, social and fearful. They exhibit very predictable behaviors and their reputation for being unpredictable, mean, malicious, killers is completely undeserved and ill-gotten. Mother bears are fiercely protective and extremely devoted, attentive, sensitive and affectionate with their young cubs.

Fact 7 - Black bears thrive best in large forests, which offer them a wide variety of foods to choose from. They enjoy a mix of fruits, acorns, assorted nuts, succulent greens, meats and insects. Wetlands and lowlands provide tender, succulent vegetation and woodland pools and streams are important for drinking and cooling off.