Just For Kids

The American Black Bear lives in North America. Even though it is called “black,” The American black bear ranges in color from black to brown, cinnamon, beige, and even pure white. There is often a white, star-shaped mark on the black bear’s  chest. Baby bears, called cubs, are born in January. The mother bear takes care of her little cubs in a cozy home called a den. Bear cubs are usually born two at a time, twins. But sometimes a mama bear will have three or four babies at one time.The cubs are very small and helpless when they are born.

In April the little cubs are big enough to leave the den. But they are not big enough to leave their mother. Baby bears stay with their mother during their first summer and fall. Then, when wintertime comes, they will stay with her in a den.

In some ways, little bear cubs are like puppies or kittens. A baby bear cries when it is cold or hungry. A baby bear purrs when it eats. Grown up bears make different noises.Their sounds are louder and meaner.

Sometimes they huff.
Sometimes they growl.
Sometimes they roar.
And sometimes they chomp
their teeth to warn other bears
when they want to be left alone.

Black bears hibernate when the weather turns cold. When a bear hibernates, it goes into its cozy den and rests for a long time. While it is resting, the bear’s body temperature goes down. It’s heart beats more slowly. With a lower body temperature and a slower heart rate, the bear does not need as much food. That’s good for the bear, because it doesn’t have to go out in the cold weather to find something to eat. American black bears can hibernate for as long as seven months at a time. That’s a long time to go without food.