American Black Bear

Description:

Black bears are medium-sized bears found in North America. The term "black" is a bit of a misnomer as these bears may be brown (cinammon), black, or even white (Kermode). Black bears may weight as much as 600 pounds, but most are much smaller. Males, on average, tend to be larger than the females.

Habitat:

Forests of North America.

Notes:

This photo was taken of a black bear as it ambled along a roadside in Yellowstone National Park. I had often wondered if wildlife would use bridges and this one did. Shortly after I took this photo it came up on the road and crossed the river on the bridge. People who had gathered on the bridge to watch the bear were taken a bit by surprise as the bear was now between them and their cars! Some people squeezed up against the bridge railings and the bear just walked past them. Others hiked to the end of the bridge and then scattered into the forest or found refuge in other visitors' cars. The bear, on the other hand, seemed completely unaware of the fuss he caused; he just wanted to peacefully cross the canyon and river and the bridge was the best way to do it. Once he got across he headed back down the bank towards the river several hundred feet below. Lots of people had a great story to tell.