A black bear among the wildflowers by Jitze Couperus

Where are they from?

Originally, black bears covered most of North America. However, due to human activities, their numbers were greatly reduced, but are now on the rise again. Today, they are found in Canada, around the Rocky Mountains, and the eastern United States.

What do they eat?

Black bears are omnivorous, meaning they eat both meat and plants. They can be found eating things like berries, roots, insects, fish, small mammals, and remains of dead animals. When around human civilization, they are also very quick to eat garbage.

How do they act?

They are nocturnal hunters, meaning they search for food mostly at night. In the winter, black bears find a den to semi-hibernate in–they don’t experience true hibernation, as they are able to wake up during the winter to go out and find food. They are fairly solitary animals, and mother bears are very protective of their cubs.

Are they endangered?


Mammal Moment

Black bears are the largest, heaviest mammal that lives in Kentucky!


Take care around black bears!