| Bears are one of the world’s most
adaptable carnivores. Their reasoning ability, long-term
memory, omnivorous food habits, dexterity, speed, strength,
sense of smell, and elusive behavior contribute to their
success through evolutionary time.
 Louisiana black bears are black with a brown muzzle, some
with a distinct white "blaze" on their chest. Adult males
generally weigh from 150 to 350 pounds, and adult females
range from 120 to over 250 pounds. Body length of adults,
nose to tail, ranges up to 6 feet.
Female black bears become sexually mature at 3 to 5 years of
age and have 1 to 5 cubs every other year. The young remain
with their mother the first year, den with her the following
winter, and search for their own territory in their second
summer.
Bears tend to range over large areas in
search of basic needs such as food, escape cover, den sites,
and mates. Males have an average range of 20,000 acres while
females usually maintain home ranges of roughly 5,000 acres.
 Although classified as carnivores, black
bears are not active predators. They are opportunistic
feeders and will eat almost anything that is available.
Natural foods, such as berries and acorns, comprise a
majority of a bear's diet, but bears readily take advantage
of food options provided by agricultural crops such as corn,
wheat, oats, and sugarcane, occasionally damage beehives in
search of honey, and will readily become habituated to human
garbage when the opportunity exists.
Black bears are very intelligent, shy and
secretive animals, and generally work hard at avoiding
contact with humans. Dangerous situations may occur whenever
close human activity is perceived as threatening to the bear
or its cubs. The best advice is for humans to avoid close
bear encounters. |
