Bulky, heavily furred animal up to 3 feet in height when on all fours.
Born with and retains either a black or cinnamon-brown fur. Adults
weigh about 300 pounds, sometimes much more.
Although there are an estimated thirty black bear roaming the deep
forests of the region, they are only occasionally seen because of their
solitary, nocturnal habits. They are infrequently observed lumbering
across a road or foraging an outdoor garbage pit in the evening. The
latter practice is discouraged, when discovered, to prevent them from
becoming "bum" bears. Because of their unpredictable and sometimes
vicious manner, it is unwise to feed or make friendly overtures toward
any bear. They have only fair eyesight, but in the woods can scent or
hear a human coming long before he might be seen, and will slip silently
away through the woods, despite their bulk. The heavy, clustered bear
dung and large tracks are the most usual sign of bear in the region. The
diet is largely ants, grubs, berries, roots, and some small rodents.
Bears in the region will den up in early December and go into a light
sleep or semi-hibernation, living off their stored fat layers. They may
be easily wakened from this sleep. The females, which have mated the
previous May, usually bear twin cubs in February. The cubs, strangely
enough, are about the size of an adult squirrel when born. They grow
rapidly and are soon out in the scattered snow fields feeding with Mama.