![]() Fed bears can lose their fear of humans and begin to associate humans with food, sometimes causing property damage and even injuring people. Most conflicts are the result of people unintentionally feeding bears, most often by allowing them access to household/camp garbage, bird feeders, or pet food. This close contact puts both humans and bears at risk. Bears in search of food are often attracted to homes and campgrounds, and into close proximity with people. People have inadvertently created conflicts by building homes or recreating in black bear habitat and providing them access to food. Most Arizona black bears hibernate from November through March, during which time they reduce body temperature, heart rate, and metabolic function, while still remaining somewhat alert in the winter den. The mobility of black bears sometimes leads them to appear in uncharacteristic habitats and to return from long distances after being moved. Black bears are known to move long distances (100 miles) to exploit isolated pockets of food. Nuisance activities are nearly always associated with artificial food sources (beehives, campgrounds, and livestock).īlack bears are normally solitary animals, except for family groups (mother and cubs), breeding pairs, and congregations at feeding sites. Black bears are generally active in the early morning and late evening they may alter their activity pattern to exploit sources of artificial food, becoming nocturnal at campgrounds and dumpsites. Behaviorīlack bears are characterized as shy, secretive animals possessing considerable curiosity and displaying high levels of intelligence and exploratory behavior. On average, they consume about 20,000 calories each day during the fall. ![]() Black bears need to store enough fat to last through the winter season when food is more scarce. Fruits dominate the diet in summer, and both fruit and mast, especially acorns, constitute most of the fall diet. In spring they consume emerging plants and carcasses of animals that have died during the winter. Nonetheless, black bears are strong predators and will kill elk calves and deer fawns. They consume grasses, roots, flowers, leaves, berries, insects, fish, carrion, etc. Dietīlack bears have an omnivorous diet, meaning they eat both plants and animals. The low reproductive potential of this species is an important management consideration. Black bears are relatively long lived animals, with some individuals exceeding 20 years of age. Normal reproductive cycles in Arizona black bears may be adversely affected by drought and resultant poor physiological condition. ![]() Female black bears in Arizona typically reach reproductive age in their fourth year and usually breed every other year. ![]() Cubs emerge from the den in April and stay with their mother through the first summer and fall, denning with her their second winter. The cubs are very small and helpless at birth. Life HistoryĬubs are typically born during December – January in winter dens, usually in pairs, but larger litters are not uncommon. Black bears have strong muscular necks and are very adept climbers. Their front feet are about as long as they are wide, but the hind feet are long and narrow and resemble a human foot. Their powerful limbs each have five toes and five short, curved claws for digging and cutting. The head is small but is supported by a strong neck. Males can be up to 70 percent heavier than females. Adults typically range from 5 to 6 feet in length and weigh 200–600 pounds, although in Arizona, females (sows) typically weigh up to 250 pounds while adult male black bears (boars) weigh up to 350 pounds. Black bears are large and stocky and have a short tail. They may also have tan or light colorations on the muzzle and chest. Black bears actually have several color phases other than black, including brown, blonde, and cinnamon.
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