How Do Black Bears Respond to Wind?
The black bear’s typical response to danger is to run or climb. Wind makes black bears nervous. It sounds like danger rustling in all directions. On windy days, they are…
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Black Bears
How Do Black Bears Respond to Thunder and Lightning?
Black bears often climb trees during thunderstorms. Around Ely, mothers with cubs often bed beneath big white pines at night and climb them for “safety” in thunderstorms. Although these trees…
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How Do Black Bears Respond to Menstrual Odors?
Despite a widespread misconception that menstrual odors attract black and grizzly bears and precipitate attacks, there is no evidence for this. The misconception began in 1967 when grizzly bears killed…
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How Do Black Bears Respond to Bright Sunlight?
Black bears with black fur avoid open sun. Black fur absorbs sunlight. Black pigs can absorb 90% more solar energy than white ones (Kelley et al. 1954). This might help…
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How Do Black Bears Respond to Mirrors?
Self awareness is a measure of intelligence. A captive chimpanzee reportedly sat in front of a mirror in a cage and eventually touched a dot on its forehead, showing that…
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Scat Analysis Versus Walking With Bears
Scat Analysis Researcher walking with bears For decades, Bear Center researchers analyzed thousands of bear scats to learn diet and how it varies with season and among years. The scats…
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Learning Which Stem to Pull Down
After pulling down the wrong stem, this 6-month-old cub looks at the juneberries that are still out of reach. As she grows up, she will learn how to determine which…
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Limitations
Predation: The stocky body that gives black bears strength and minimizes heat loss makes them a poor predator. The stocky, insulated body makes them overheat during chases and gives them…
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Adaptations for Obtaining Food
A keen sense of smell Strong curved claws for climbing trees and ripping logs Strength for turning over rocks and logs to get colonial insects and strength for bending branches…
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Effects of Food on Survival
Effects of food on cub growth and survival Starvation is the main cause of death for black bear cubs around Ely. By fall, cubs can weigh 15 to 165 pounds,…
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