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October 7th, 2014 - 04:31 PM
What is it about a black bear that creates fear or at least reverent respect on the viewer? Is it their size, brute strength, or what? One thing is certain they can be a force to be reckoned with.
Native has specific names for black bears, those names are: Abenaki: awasos, Algonquin: makwa, Blackfoot: kiááyo, Carrier: sʌs, Cree: maskwa, Dene: tsah, Ojibwe: makwaa, Crow: daxpitchée, Gwich'in: shooh-zhraii, Hopi: hoonaw, Lakota (Sioux): mato, Navajo: shash (łizhinígíí), Nez Perce: yáakaʼ, Sahaptin: yáka, Shoshone: wedaʼ, Tlingit: sʼeeḵ, Tsalagi: gv-ni-ge-yo-na, Nahuatl: tlācamāyeh, Tarahumara: ojuí, Guarijio: ohoí, Kiliwa: kmákan, Kickapoo: mahkwa, Yoreme: jóona, O'odham: judumi. Regardless of what name you call a black bear by the fact of the matter is that it is a marvelous beast.
Contrary to popular belief the black bear is not endangered. As a matter of fact it is regarded as “of least concern” by those who rank, judge and evaluate animal species to determine if they are in danger of becoming extinct. International Union for Conservation of Nature is one such agency and rates the black bear as secure and estimates their numbers at 900,000 in North America and Mexico. This is roughly the same population as the population of Dallas, Texas. To give even more depth and understanding to this population for bears there are only 8 cities in the United States that have a larger population than the bear population in North America. They are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, and San Diego. All other cities in the United States have a human population lower than the population of the black bear throughout its natural habitat range.
Male Adult Black Bears generally weigh between 130-550 lbs, and Females between 90-370 lbs. The coat of the black bear is determined based on where it lives.
Color variations of black bears by location
Location Pelage Color
Michigan 100% black
Minnesota 94% black, 6% brown
New England 100% black
New York 100% black
Tennessee 100% black
Washington (coastal) 99% black, 1% brown or blonde
Washington (inland) 21% black, 79% brown or blonde
Yosemite National Park 9% black, 91% brown or blonde
The bears diet generally consists of roughly 85% vegetation the other 15% is the meat of fish and small animals such as young deer, elk and the like.
The best and safest way to view this large mammal is to view it in a zoo. If you dare to venture out and view this creature in its natural habitat, be extremely careful particularly with a female has cubs. The end results of those types of encounters generally do not bode well for the individual or the bear.
To photograph a bear in nature a long lens and tripod are ideal. Setting your camera to sports mode with a high ISO will also assist in capturing great images without too much risk of danger.
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