Everything You Need to Know About Black Bears: Part 1

While Black Bears are a marvelous sight to behold in the wild (or sometimes out your back window), they can also give us humans plenty of grief. This species is as spectacular as it is dangerous, and this year has driven that point home. Black Bear activity has been unusually high along the Pacific Northwest Coast this year due to the unusually cool and wet weather we experienced this past spring. The weather resulted in a late Salmonberry crop, which Black Bears are dependent on for a natural food source (1). Without that source, they went looking for other food sources, and garbage cans across Ocean Shores were among their favorites. I should know. They got into my family's garbage can back in May and made a mess across our neighborhood. Recent Ring neighborhood activity reports my family receives indicate that Black Bears are still getting into garbage cans across our little piece of coastal paradise, even though Huckleberry and Wild Blueberry crops should be starting to become available as natural food sources by now (1).

Additionally, Black Bear activity has also been higher than normal in our region's inland areas, with two noteworthy examples (2, 3) of this activity making headlines in recent weeks. As our region's population continues to grow and human development spreads into forested, rural areas, interactions between humans and Black Bears are only going to increase. Cool, wet springs like the one we just experienced will only add to the situation.

Given the increase in bear activity this year, we believe that now is a good time to discuss Black Bears and look at how we can avoid conflicts with them so that we can continue to coexist with them safely. Over the next four months, we're going to do just that. We'll be looking at an array of topics from how Black Bears are classified to keeping bears out of your garbage, as well as what to do if a bear decides to, heaven forbid, attack you. We hope you'll join us as we shine a spotlight on all things Black Bears. Let's begin!

Classification

The American Black Bear is the species of Black Bear that exists in the United States. The species' scientific name is Ursus americanus. It is a member of the Chordata Phylum, the Mammalia Class, the Carnivora Order, and the Ursidae Family. Additionally, it is a member of the Ursus Genus, and the Euarctos Subgenus.

The American Black Bear is currently separated by taxonomists into sixteen subspecies. These subspecies are based on small differences in DNA and appearance. The subspecies that you will encounter here in the Pacific Northwest is Ursus americanus altifrontalis (4), which is also known as the Olympic Black Bear (5).

Physical Characteristics

Despite their name, Black Bears are not always black. They can sport a variety of different colors, including brown, cinnamon, blonde, and rust. Black or brown, with a light brown snout, is generally most common coloration (6). However, here in Western Washington, 99% of Black Bears are indeed black. In Eastern Washington, only 21% of Black Bears are black, with 79% being brown or blonde (7). Additionally, some bears have a white patch across their chests (8).

Black Bears in the Western United States typically weigh anywhere from 100 to 300 pounds (6). However, large males can exceed 600 pounds, particularly if ample food sources are available. Females rarely weigh more than 200 pounds. Black Bears have straight facial profiles, with long muzzles, small dark eyes, and long prominent ears. Their tails and short and "inconspicuous" (8).

Members of both sexes are approximately 2.5 to 3 feet tall at the shoulder when standing on all four legs (their rump is higher than their shoulders when standing on all fours, meaning that they are actually a little taller than the figure given, though exactly how much taller isn't clear) (6). When they stand upright, they are roughly five feet tall. Their length is approximately 75 inches from tail to nose (8).

Geographic Range

Black Bears are a common sight throughout all of Washington State, with the exception of the non-forested areas of the Columbia Basin (6). They are also not commonly seen in the San Juan Islands and on Whidbey Island, though they do swim over to those islands from time to time (9, 10).  Almost anywhere you go in Washington can be considered bear country.

Black Bears make their homes in a wide array of forested habitats across our state, from the rainforests of the Olympic Mountains to the dry woodlands that line the east side of the Cascade Mountains (6). Generally, Black Bears prefer forest cover. However, they will make occasional forays into clear cuts and the fringes of other open habitat whenever the mood takes them (6).

Tracks

Black Bears have unique tracks that are not always easy to spot. In a layer of snow, they'll typically be spotted fairly easily. On the traditional dry dirt surfaces that many of our state's hiking trails have, they might not be so easy to spot, especially if the trail is well traveled by other animals and humans. All Black Bear prints usually have five digits, which makes sense because they have five toes on each of their feet (6). Their toes form what the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) describes as "a rough semicircle in front of each foot" (6). The middle toe is the longest in the semicircle. Their front foot tracks have smaller footpads, whereas their hind foot tracks tend to show longer footpads. These longer footpads show some degree of resemblance to the human foot (6). A Black Bear's claw marks are located approximately half an inch in front of the toe pads. However, it is worth noting that these marks will not always be visible in each track (6).

Winter Dens

Black Bears hibernate each winter to avoid the cold weather and lack of available natural food sources. They spend the winter safe and warm in cozy dens. They make their dens in hollow logs or trees, under the root masses of trees, and in rock crevices (11). Black Bears can spend up to six months hibernating each year. However, hibernation season along the Washington Coast is believed to be much shorter. A Ring neighborhood activity report that my family received in November 2021 included a report of a bear sighting along the beach here in Ocean Shores during that month (12). Additionally, the Chinook Observer reported in 2016 that bears were waking up in February of that year in Ilwaco (13). Regardless of how long their hibernation season runs for, Black Bears do not eat, drink, or produce waste during that period (11).This means that they wake up very hungry are begin looking for food immediately upon leaving hibernation.

Bear Droppings

If you've ever been out on a trail deep in the forests of the Olympics or Cascades, then you have likely encountered piles of bear droppings. These droppings are cylindrical in shape and are generally deposited in a "coiled form.” From time to time, individual "segments" are produced (6). These tend to be two to three inches long and about 1.25 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Bear droppings are not like human feces, as they contain bits of fur, bone, insects, plant fibers, and hair. The size of the deposits also distinguishes them from human feces, as bears tend to produce much larger piles than we do (6). The color of the deposits ranges from black to dark brown and, when grass has been eaten in large quantities, green. During fruit and berry season, droppings take on a moist "cow pie" form (6). Seeds will also be visible.

Next Time

That is everything that we have for you this month. Next month, we'll take a look at the life cycle of Black Bears and why Black Bears love trees so much. See you in September!

References

1. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2022/06_June/062422b.asp
2. https://www.q13fox.com/news/black-bear-killed-after-attacking-jogger-near-lake-whatcom
3. https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/black-bear-cubs-euthanized-after-becoming-too-comfortable-with-humans-north-bend/T6EUEFRTGRBVTPUZTVJNHEUPFI/
4. https://bear.org/classification-of-black-bears/
5. http://www.bearconservation.org.uk/olympic-black-bear/
6. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/ursus-americanus
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_black_bear
8. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/black-bear
9. https://www.islandssounder.com/news/black-bear-on-san-juan-island/
10. https://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/wandering-bear-spotted-on-whidbey/
11. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/black-bears.htm
12. Ring Neighborhood Activity Report, November 2021.
13. https://www.chinookobserver.com/life/outdoors/bears-wake-up-for-spring/article_d8d187c9-52d2-5c87-93a8-dbeb9cff49cf.html

© Ian D. Caldwell, August 2022