The black bear is a large bodied (male: 150 to 300 lb; female: 100 to 180 lb), dark brown to black mammal. All black bears are characterized b y a light brown muzzle; some individuals may have a white patch on the chest. They have small, conspicuously furred ears that are usually held erect. They have large, well-padded feet equipped with 5 prominent claws. Bears have good eyesight and hearing, but rely primarily on their excellent sense of smell to locate food and recognize potential danger.

In Massachusetts, bears are found primarily west of the Connecticut River and north of the Massachusetts Turnpike. However, individuals, particularly young males, have been recorded as far east as Worcester and Middlesex Counties and south to the Connecticut/Rhode Island borders. They typically inhabit wooded wetlands, swamps, and mixed hardwood and conifer forests with a dense understory adjacent to water sources.

Black bears are active during daylight (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 to 2 hours after sunset). They may be nocturnal in areas where frequent contact with humans occurs (e.g. in campgrounds, dumps or landfills) or during the breeding season. They are not social animals and rarely group together (except at food sources during extremely lean natural food years). They have a relatively low productivity in that they produce 2 to 4 cubs every 2 to 3 years. Females first breed at 3 to 5 years of age. Onset of denning is variable, depending on availability of natural foods, but generally occurs between late November and early December and extends until early April.

For even more information please visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at:

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_black_bear.htm
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