Five Facts about American Black Bears
- Tenn-I-See
- Jan 20, 2023
- 3 min read
It’s safe to say, here in East Tennessee, we’re obsessed with black bears! You’ll see them as statues, wood carvings, restaurant and store signs, logos on hats and shirts, sports team mascots, and well… just about anywhere you look!
We’re not alone though. If you often drive through the Smokies, you’ve probably found yourself coming to a sudden halt because cars are stopped and people are taking pictures of a black bear in the woods (2 things, please don’t block traffic and please keep your distance from bears and other wildlife).
Today, I want to share five facts about my favorite animal, American black bears!
Fact # 1
The overall black bear population in the United States is estimated to be between anywhere from 339,000 to 465,000, and growing.
California has the largest population of black bears in the U.S., ranging between 25,000 to 35,000.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is estimated to be the home to roughly 1,500 black bears. About two per square mile.
Fact # 2
We have a tendency to look at bears as scary monsters that are out to eat humans. While some bears, like grizzly bears, are very aggressive, black bears usually want nothing to do with you.
When confronted, most black bears will just smack the ground, make blowing noises, and make mock charges. Most of the time, they don’t want to fight, they just want to be left alone.
That’s not to say black bears won’t attack. People have been attacked and even killed by black bears. Most attacks occur on campgrounds, where tourists feed bears and leave their food out. That’s why it’s recommended to not feed bears or any wildlife, and store your food in a secure location.
Fact # 3
Speaking of storing your food in a secure location, it’s important to make sure the location is very secure. That’s because black bears have fine motor skills.
They can open screw top jars and even car doors! This is why most campsites and parks have bear-resistant garbage cans. You can even buy bear-resistant food containers. Just something to consider before your next camping trip.
Fact # 4
We know you shouldn’t feed bears and should always keep your food secure, but what do black bears naturally eat?
While black bears are big and look ferocious, they’re not really the predators you’d think they’d be. The average black bear’s diet mostly consists of plants, some insects, and a little meat.
Black bears mostly eat grass, leaves, nuts and berries. They also eat wasps, bees, termites and ants. When they do eat meat, it’s usually from already dead animals or animals that are playing dead, like opossums, and of course some occasional fish.
Fact # 5
Did you know the American Black Bear was the inspiration for one of the most popular toys in the world?
In 1902, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt went on a hunting trip with the Mississippi Governor. Several of Roosevelt’s attendants tied a black bear to a tree and invited him to shoot it. He refused on the grounds of it being unsportsmanlike.
The Washington Post would later make a political cartoon of the incident. In the cartoon, the black bear was depicted as small, soft and cuddly.
Morris Michtom was inspired by the comic and created a plush bear cub. He put it in his candy shop window and named it “Teddy’s Bear” after Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed these five facts about American black bears!
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