For 100 days, black bears do not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. About 90 percent of the bear live in the upper peninsula, while the remaining ten percent are mainly found in the northern lower peninsula. It has ears that are often pointed and a short tail. South of that line, bears are not as common, but they do occur. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Michigansbiggest black bear michigan sportsman online. Brown bear incidents have occurred in their native range spanning alaska, northern and western canada, and portions of the rocky mountains in the united states. The black bear population has risen 29 percent in the region since 2012 and almost 50 percent since 2000. The body of black bears is covered with long thick and coarse guard hair with dense underfur. Read this lesson to learn all about the american black bear, one of the eight bear species. The michigan black bears is a womens u23 rugby team, representing the best players from all over the state. While its unlikely for people to see a bear in the northern michigan outdoors, it. The black bear is approximately 4 to 7 feet from nose to tail, and two to three feet high at the withers. The american black bear consists of only one species, but its colour varies, even among members of the same litter. There may be as many as 750,000 black bears roaming the forests and mountains of the continent. Founded in 1999, michigan started as a collection of links to michigan related sites, and a series of manually edited blogs. Bears like grizzly bears and kodiak bears are actually subspecies of the brown bear. With the dietary preferences of a labrador retriever and the survival. Bear printable worksheets and other off line activities.
The american black bear is the most common bear native to north america. The book goes into a good deal of detail in explaining the habits and mindset of black bears. Facts about black bears black bears can smell and hear very well. In the eastern third of north america, the majority of black bears are a deep black color, and about a quarter of them sport a white chest blaze. Courtesy photoruss blake dropped this 500pound plus black bear that could set a state record for bear taken with a pistol. The black bear may be tamed and taught various tricks, and it is a common performer in circuses and other animal acts. The wishing bear 2006 by jennifer dziekan includes a list of bear facts from the north american bear center. The black bear ursus americanus is the only species of bear found in michigan. Dna testing was unable to determine whether it was a large american black bear or a grizzly bear. There are more record book black bear entries from here than the rest of north america. This bear book for kids mixes facts, photos and even includes a video clip section. Black bears range from canada to mexico, from new england to california. Apr 26, 2018 njs hungry black bears are leaving their winter dens. Black bears are usually black, but they can also be brown or cinnamon colored.
Understanding michigan black bear 2nd edition richard p smith. American black bear black bears are north americas most familiar and common bears. Many of the trained bears seen in movies are provided by doug seus. They mostly eat grasses, herbs and fruit, but will sometimes eat other things, including fish. Bear lake, mi a black bear killed by a grand rapids business owner is one of the largest ever taken in michigan. Michigan holds the record for the sixth most entries per square mile.
Despite their tendency to stay in one area, black bear excursions of up to 126 miles have been recorded. You cant help but be impressed by his determination, while wanting to give him a hug for his sweetness. Approximately 15,000 19,000 black bears including cubs roam the hardwood and conifer forests of northern michigan. Biologists have been researching black bear in michigan for nearly onehalf century and know more about michigans black bear population. An area is considered baited for 10 days after all bait has been consumed or removed. Mar 06, 2020 in parks, humanhabituated bears often must be killed as they become hazardous around campsites. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful, and really add to the book s appeal. The goal of every black bear diner is to deliver scrumptious food in a friendly environment. Jul 30, 2014 bears, a small group of mostly large omnivorous mammals, can be found all over the world. Currently, michigan contains approximately 12,000 bears statewide, with an estimated 10,000 living in the upper peninsula and 2,000 residing in the northern lower peninsula.
Shy and secretive, the sighting of a bear is a rare treat for most virginians. Unregulated hunting and habitat loss caused black bears to be extirpated from indiana and much of the midwest by 1850. Bear killed in manistee county among largest taken in michigan. Welcome to a day in the life of a michigan black bear. If you ever wanted to know what bears eat, where they live, or how they hibernate, check out this video for.
They typically live in forests and are excellent tree climbers, but are also found in mountains and swamps. American black bears are found in canada, mexico and north america. Michigan u24 elite womens rugby black bears facebook. Living with black bears in wisconsin black bear ursus americanus facts nuisance bears and agricultural damage if there is a nuisance bear in your area or if you are experiencing agricultural damage problems, contact the u. Keep an eye out for more species and how to hunt them. I have lived in michigan for 75 years and would love tosas a bear. Adult female bear are generally smaller than adult males. Black bear sightings now common in lower peninsula. Black bear anatomy includes a straight face and flat shoulders. The american black bear is a mediumsized bear with a brown muzzle. Black bears often appear to be much larger than they are.
The locations of black bear wilderness fatal attacks reflect. Apr 25, 2000 a big black bear tagged by sharon agren from lewiston in montmorency county on september 22,1997 has the highest scoring skull on record for michigan by a wide margin,acorrding to commemorative bucks of michigan measurer ken reed from lewiston. Bear, photo by majestic view photography heres a few of the many michigan black bear facts available from the dnr. Quick black bear facts north american bear centernorth. Dave taylor is the authorphotographer of more than 50 books on wildlife and natural history. Teeth are specialized for feeding on plants and animals parkhurst, 2009. The bear facts 25 things every black bear hunter should. The american black bears fur is uniform in color and can range from black to various shades of brown. Bear books for children a fun and fascinating way for young readers to find out more about these highly intelligent creatures. In some areas such as the pacific northwest, it commonly lives at the edges of towns and suburbs where it has been known to break into storage buildings or cars in search of food.
We promise to make your visit a pleasant one, and well try to keep the puns to a bear minimum we said try. I bought this book for tips on black bear hunting for the northeast u. Fatal bear attacks in north america have occurred in a variety of settings. If you like big lakes, cold weather and black bears, this is the place for you.
Includes membership details, events, photos, sponsors and online merchandise sales. American black bears ursus americanus live in north america and mexico. Although the book has michigan in the title, much of the information about black bears on its pages applies to the animals almost anywhere they are found. Russ blake had all but given up by the last day of the southern michigan. The bear facts 25 things every black bear hunter should know. But then came march and the first cases of coronavirus in michigan and suddenly everything they had built anew for themselves began to slowly. Feb 25, 20 most black bear in michigan have dark black fur. A female bear will often have a range of 26 miles, while a males range may extend over a much larger area up to 15 miles, and overlap the ranges of several females. Black bear sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore u. Urea, a waste product found in urine, can be fatal in high levels in most animals including humans, but bears are able to break down the urea. There is good reason that you dont see bears on leashes in public parks. Black bear hunting is king in the northern and eastern states. Black bears eat fish, rodents, berries, bugs, and honey.
Biologists have been researching black bear in michigan for nearly onehalf century and know more about michigans black bear population and distribution than many other wildlife species. Because black bears can be found sniffing around yards in search of food from compost to fallen birdseed. In michigan, most black bears have black or extremely dark brown fur. We chose this charity because it focuses solely on kids books. Females typically weigh from 100 to 250 pounds, and males vary in weight from 150 to 400 pounds. Black bears or scientifically called ursus americanus are native to north america and are most familiar and common bears. A problem for black bears is that literature about bears often does not separate black bears from grizzly bears. Although this book is written about black bears in michigan, much of the information applies to black bears everywhere. Before 2015, when a black bear entered the state at the michigan border, the last confirmed report of a black bear in indiana.
In 2016, a black bear was confirmed in southern indianas harrison, washington and clark counties, it said. The majority of american black bear encounters with wolves occur in the species northern range, with no interactions being recorded in mexico. Ten of the best bears in childrens literature nosy crow. They are typically known to live in forests but, can also be found in mountains and swamps. Feb 15, 2017 black bear population booming in northern michigan. Before 2015, when a black bear entered the state from michigan, the last confirmed report of a black bear in indiana was in the 1870s, the dnr said. The wishing bear 2006 by jennifer dziekan includes a list of bear facts from the. You dont read this comic book like a regular comic book.
Brown color variations are more common in western states. Not feeding wild black bears is therefore better for both humans and bears. Information about the american black bear from the animal diversity web, university of michigan museum of zoology. Black bears are an important and exciting part of sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore. Hunting on property he owns in the ups schoolcraft county on the evening of sept. Adult female bears, called sows, weigh about 175 pounds.
Black bears have strong curved claws for climbing, digging, and tearing logs. When ola suggested this theme to me for a blog post, i couldnt believe we hadnt covered it before it is absolutely crying out to be written but it seems shes right. Weve chosen to donate our first set of books to the lisa libraries. Black bear fact sheet the american black bear ursus americanus, also known as the cinnamon bear, is the most common bear species native to north america. Obviously, hunters should be cautious when hunting bear or turkeys in areas where deer hunting takes place. There is also a nice photo in richard smiths book understanding michigan black bear of a dressed 650 lb bear taken in iron county in 1950. Dnr about black bears in michigan state of michigan. It has small eyes, rounded ears, a long snout, a large body, a short tail, and shaggy hair. Approximately 90 percent of the bear population in michigan calls the peninsula home. Grizzly heart 2002 by charles russell and maureen enns. This is all to feed our mission of getting little bears everywhere to fall in love with books. The coat of a black bear is shaggy and usually black but it can also be dark brown, cinnamon, or yellowbrown. What you should know about michigan black bears marvac. Fur color can vary from black to chocolate brown with gray combinations.
Kids can learn to read while learning about north american grizzly bears, polar bears and black bears. In michigan, bears tend to use a mixture of vegetative cover types, including deciduous lowland forests and coniferous swamps, mature and earlysuccessional upland forests, and some degree of forest openings consisting of grasses and forbs. A big black bear tagged by sharon agren from lewiston in montmorency county on september 22,1997 has the highest scoring skull on record for michigan by a wide margin,acorrding to commemorative bucks of michigan measurer ken reed from lewiston. They will provide information on how best to resolve the situation. A good rule of thumb is to scout the area you are hunting to make sure it is free from any type of baiting activity. Greg reimus from beaverton may have shot the biggest black bear in the state for the 2017 season. Despite the american black bear being more powerful on a onetoone basis, packs of wolves have been recorded to kill black bears on numerous occasions without eating them.
Subspecies of this bear include the cinnamon bear, the glacier bear, the mexican black bear, the kermode bear, the louisiana black bear. Swinburne tak three species of bear inhabit north america. A day in the life of a michigan black bear comic dnr. Bears in the upper peninsula of michigan, camping with bears.
Find out what they look like, what they eat, and other interesting facts. With an estimated 18,000 black bears roaming across most of pennsylvania, your chances of encountering a bear in the state are greater than at any. One of the chapters is about a michigan cub that was orphaned and became part of an important bear research project in minnesota. This little sliver of a northeastern state packs a big punch in the bear hunting. American black bear ursus americanusalso known as black bear or north american black bear species code. The only species of bear found in michigan is the black bear. Ip factlys 101 facts series has been designed to encourage and bolster independent reading.
List of fatal bear attacks in north america wikipedia. It was a marriage of my passions for the outdoors and the internet. Discover shared traits and behaviors as well as unique characteristics of the polar bear, brown bear, north american black bear, spectacled bear, asiatic black bear, sloth bear, sun bear, and giant panda. The black bear occurs throughout much of the continent, from northern canada and alaska south into mexico, from the atlantic to the pacific. The bulk of the book is devoted to what has been learned about black bears. Join us on a wild adventure and discover this beautiful creature in our black bear facts.
Bear childrens books printable worksheets for use with childrens books plus a list of fiction and nonfiction book recommendations for doing a bear unit. Department of natural resources information about black bear identification, dens and breeding, life span, homerange, feeding, habitat, history and hunting. Approximately 15,000 to 19,000 black bears, including cubs, roam northern michigan. If youre traveling outside of michigan, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with their. Jul 12, 2019 the american black bear ursus americanus is a large omnivore that inhabits the forests, swamps, and tundra throughout the more northerly reaches of north america. To get an accurate picture on the nature of bears, i highly recommend a book entitled, bear attacks their causes and avoidance written by dr.
Baby bear is portrayed as determined little guy, but he carries the innocence that all children posses. Learn about the many mysteries of the american black bear, the most common bear in the world. They want to enjoy the beauty of the forest and see wildlife. Come visit michigan s beautiful upper peninsula for a hunting experience you will never forget. People have had the opportunity to see an eagle soaring, playful otters splashing in a lake, a doe and her fawn sneaking through the brush or even a black bear. During the spring season, the weight of black bears is smaller than in autumn season. Black bear, ursus americanus, also called american bear, the most common bear family ursidae, found in the forests of north america, including parts of mexico. The further west you go, the more likely it is you could see brown, cinnamon, tan or blonde black bears. Many people journey deep into the woods with tents and campers.
For many people, the chance to see a michigan black bear in the wild is an amazing experience. Upper peninsula of michigan guided bear and deer hunts at the buck sporting lodge gwinn and newberry units. Ten of the best bears in childrens literature july 26, 20. American black bear ursus americanus also known as black bear or north american black bear species code. There have been several in the bears wilderness habitats involving hikers, hunters, and campers.
Black bears are most frequently found in large, heavily forested areas. Dnr confirms black bear struck by car on i64 dubois. So wax your mustache, pull out your monocle and enjoy the accomplishments of many a great hunter. As you know, for each new subscriber that book bears receives, we donate a picture book to benefit a child in need.
View 5 photos for n black bear dr, alpena, mi 49707 a bed, bath, 10. Through fullcolor photos and fun facts sections, the author illustrates the latest research findings in an easytoread format. Size black bears are the largest land mammal in new jersey. Michigans forestland in the upper peninsula provides the ideal habitat for the species, with ample food and plenty of cover. Michigan s northern lower peninsula is experiencing a bear boom. The resulting nitrogen is used to build protein, which helps bears maintain muscle mass and healthy organ tissue during inactivity. Whether you go guided or set baits on your own, here are 15 tips to help your baiting success this spring. He is a retired teacher who has had a passion for black bears. The detroit free press reports that the black bear population is booming in northern michigan the black bear population has risen 29 percent in the region since 2012 and almost 50 percent since 2000, according to wildlife management specialist kevin swanson of the department of natural resources. The size of a bear depends on its age, sex, diet, and season of the year.
Contrary to other nonfiction animal books, this one includes some first hand accounts of the authors adventures, instead of just giving us the straight facts to. Two books were produced in cooperation with the north american bear center. While most of the states bears are truly black, their name can be misleading as they can come in a variety of colors. Black bears come in more colors than any other north american mammal.
Black bear ursus americanus facts of the three bear species black, brown, and polar bears in north america, only the black bear lives in virginia. The bears on prince of wales were recently reclassified by safari club international as coastal bears or island black bear due to their massive size. Black bears can run 35 miles per hour and can live for more than 25 years. One of the more notable facts about this species is that they are excellent climbers, even when cubs. Debruyn presents detailed, closeup observations of michigan black bears. In michigan, female bear range from 100250 pounds, while adult males weigh between 150400 pounds. The book is wellmade as others have stated, the paper is heavy and the photos are vivid color, which is nice to see in this day and age. Best bear books north american bear centernorth american bear. A bear shot in autumn 1986 in michigan was thought by some to be an american black bear grizzly bear hybrid, due to its unusually large size and its proportionately larger brain case and skull.