Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
The American Black Bear usually ranges in length from 150 to 180 cm and typically stands about 76 to 91 cm at the shoulder. Standing up on its hind feet, a Black Bear can be up to 2.12 m. Males are approximately 33% larger than females. Adult black bears can reach 300 kg, but exceptionally large males have been recorded from the wild at up to 240 cm long and at least 365 kg. The adult has small eyes, rounded ears, a long snout, a large body, and a short tail. It has an excellent sense of smell.
Although Black Bears can stand and walk on their hind legs it is more normal for them to walk on all fours. When they do stand, it is usually to get a better scent or to look at something. Each paw has five long, strong claws used for tearing, digging, and climbing. When necessary, they can run at speeds up to 48 km/h and are good swimmers.
