American black bear

Description:

The American black bear is North America's smallest bear species. Coloration ranges from black, to a beautiful cinnamon brown as seen in this image, to silver-blue, and even to white. Black bears are omnivores with a diet consisting predominantly of plants and berries.

Habitat:

The American black bear is the continent's most widely distributed bear species. They range from Alaska, across parts of every Canadian province, through sections of the Pacific Northwest and down through Wyoming, Colorado, into Arizona and New Mexico, and may also be found in the northern states of Mexico. In the Midwest, they may be found in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as in Missouri and Arkansas. On the East and Gulf Coasts, they are predominant in mountainous areas through New England, down through the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. However, they may also be found along the coast in North and South Carolina, as well as in parts of Louisiana, southern Alabama, Georgia, and even in Florida.

Notes:

This specimen was viewed at the Nature Habitat at Grandfather Mountain in western North Carolina.