Black bear (Ursus americanus)

Bibliography

Taxonomy:  Species= americanus

                            Genus= Ursus

                            Family= Ursidae

                            Order= Carnivora

                            Class= Mammalia

                            Phylum= Chordata

                            Kingdom= Animalia

Common Names: Bear                                                                                             

Habitat Preference: Deciduous forest. Densely forested mountainous terrain. Elevation ranging from 900 to 3,000 meters.

Geographical Distribution: Throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains, including the Great Dismal Swamp in southeast Virginia. They have a large range all over North America.

Identifying Characteristics: Males tend to be 20-60% larger than the females.  Black, brown, or cinnamon colored with a lighter colored muzzle similar to that of a dog's nose. The bears have a large rounded bodies with short thick legs. They also have long claws, short ears, and stubby tails.

Biogeographic Facts: There are three bear species in North America.

Black bears are the most abundant and the only bears that are found in Virginia. The black bear population is around 4500-5000.

Natural threats for the bears include disease and parasites like round warm. 

Miscellaneous Facts: Gestation is 220 Days, litter size is usually 2-3, age of sexually maturity is 3 to 4 years, and life span is approximately 32 years.

With a proper license bear hinting is allowed in western counties of Virginia.

Black bears are not naturally aggressive animals, never run in a bear encounter.

Food: Usually grass, berries, insect, and nuts like acorns.

Bears are omnivores and pretty much feed on whatever they find including trash from humans.

Distribution Maps:            

North American Distribution

http://www.bbg.org/sci/nymf/encyclopedia/eri/kal0020b.htm

Virginia Distribution

"The Mammals of Virginia" By Donald W. Linzey