Knowra American black bear American black bear The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a bear species native to North America. Its coat ranges from black to brown, cinnamon, and other colors, and it eats a wide variety of plants and animals.
Ursidae : The mammal family comprising bears, including the American black bear. This family places the American black bear among its closest living relatives.
Hibernation : A seasonal state of greatly reduced activity and metabolism that helps animals endure adverse conditions. In cold regions, black bears spend winter in dens with sharply reduced metabolism.
Kermode bear : A white-coated population of American black bears found mainly in coastal British Columbia. This distinctive color form shows that black bears are not always black.
Trophic cascade : A chain of ecological effects caused by changes in the abundance of organisms across feeding levels. Black bears influence food webs by consuming plants, insects, and animals.
Grizzly bear : A North American population of brown bear, Ursus arctos, with a pronounced shoulder hump and long claws. Grizzlies are usually larger and have a shoulder hump, unlike black bears.
Carnivora : The mammal order that includes cats, dogs, seals, and bears. Bears belong to Carnivora despite often eating more plants than meat.
Torpor : A temporary reduction in an animal's metabolic rate, body temperature, and activity. Black bears conserve energy in winter without the deep body-temperature drop typical of many hibernators.
Glacier bear : A bluish-gray color form of the American black bear found in parts of southeastern Alaska. Its unusual coat is another example of color variation within the species.
Human–wildlife conflict : Negative interactions between people and wild animals that arise from overlapping needs or space. Bears that find food near homes or camps can damage property and become dangerous.
Polar bear : A large Arctic bear species adapted to hunting marine mammals on sea ice. Polar bears specialize in marine prey and Arctic habitats, unlike the black bear's broad diet and range.
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