Maskwa – the Little White Cub
Maskwa, Cree for bear, is the name Manitoba wildlife officials gave to this rare white cub because of her significance to Native Americans. These pictures have circulated on the Internet…
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Black Bears
What is a Spirit Bear?
Spirit bears are rare black bears with white or creamy fur, brown eyes, dark nose pads, and nearly white claws. They are not polar bears or albinos. Maybe 100 exist….
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How Did White Fur Become Established?
How did white fur become established among the black bears of Princess Royal and Gribbell Islands? No one really knows, but the thinking, in general, goes like this. Mutations frequently…
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Black Bear Color Phases
Black bears come in more colors than any other North American mammal. They can be black, brown, cinnamon, blond, blue-gray, or white. Glacier Bear with cubs East of the Great…
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Capabilities
Vision: Bears see in color and have good close-up vision. Distance vision (over 200 yards) untested. Hearing: Exceeds human frequency ranges and is probably twice the sensitivity. Smelling: Smelling ability…
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Longevity and Causes of Death
Potential Longevity (lifespan): Black bears can live 21-39 1/2 years or more if they are not killed. Causes of Death: In Minnesota, black bears less than 16-17 months old typically…
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Reproduction
Mating season: Late May through June in northeastern Minnesota but into August in eastern and southern states. Males are ready to mate throughout that period but each female is ready…
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Food and Habitat
Preferred Foods: Nuts, acorns, fruit, insects, succulent greens. Meat and less succulent greens are eaten when preferred foods are scarce. A scarcity of preferred foods can result in failed reproduction,…
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Adaptations for Seasons of Food Scarcity
A stocky body for carrying fat and minimizing heat loss in winter Ability to grow dense insulating fur Ability to accumulate excess fat when food is available and remain healthy…
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