Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Physiological effect
Five annual stages of the black bear's activities and hibernation
1. Hibernation
2. Walking hibernation
3. Normal activity
4. Hyperphagia
5. Fall transition
Depends on biochemistry, physiology, appetites and level of activities, the stages are differ.
Five annual stages of the black bear's activities and hibernation
1. Hibernation
2. Walking hibernation
3. Normal activity
4. Hyperphagia
5. Fall transition
Depends on biochemistry, physiology, appetites and level of activities, the stages are differ.
-Change in respiratory
Bear undergo respiratory sinus arrhythmia during hibernation. During hibernation, respiration rate were as low as two breaths per minute and gaps of over 14 seconds without a heartbeat were recorded.
-Body temperature
Unlike deep hibernators like bats, insectivores and rodents, black bear hibernate at near normal body temperature which is 31-35 celsius.
They must awake every few days to raise their temperatures to over 94 Fahrenheit , and move around their burrow and urinate. Since their heat lost very slowly, the enable to their metabolic rate in half and can get through winter with maintaining above 88 degrees temperature. Moreover, rectal temperature drop only slightly, from 99-102 Fahrenheit (summer) to 88-98 Fahrenheit (hibernating).
(Picture: Optical and infrared (IR) images of hibernating wild black bears. This picture clearly show that bears remain alert during the winter months. Because of the bear’s fur, they substantially reduces heat loss.)
-Heart rate
In the summer, their heart rate is 60-90 beat per minute. However, during the hibernation, heart rate drop 8 to 40 beats per minutes.
Bear undergo respiratory sinus arrhythmia during hibernation. During hibernation, respiration rate were as low as two breaths per minute and gaps of over 14 seconds without a heartbeat were recorded.
-Body temperature
Unlike deep hibernators like bats, insectivores and rodents, black bear hibernate at near normal body temperature which is 31-35 celsius.
They must awake every few days to raise their temperatures to over 94 Fahrenheit , and move around their burrow and urinate. Since their heat lost very slowly, the enable to their metabolic rate in half and can get through winter with maintaining above 88 degrees temperature. Moreover, rectal temperature drop only slightly, from 99-102 Fahrenheit (summer) to 88-98 Fahrenheit (hibernating).
(Picture: Optical and infrared (IR) images of hibernating wild black bears. This picture clearly show that bears remain alert during the winter months. Because of the bear’s fur, they substantially reduces heat loss.)
-Heart rate
In the summer, their heart rate is 60-90 beat per minute. However, during the hibernation, heart rate drop 8 to 40 beats per minutes.
Video: Digging a Den
Most bears in Northeastern Minnesota make den in September or October.
This video is 3-year-old June digging the ten in Eagles Nest Township, Minnesota.
Habitat
American black bear is native to North America and Canadian provinces, Alaska, all states in United States . They live in forest as far south as Florida and northern Mexico and as far north as forest grow in Alaska and Canada.
For hibernation, black bear curls up into a ball in a cave, under the roots of the fallen tree, in a crevice, in a hollow tree or log or in a den it digs out and goes to sleep. So, they are found in a variety of habitats like tree covered area, meadow, in mount area, swamp, forests for hibernation.
Mating
Usually, late May to early July. Occasionally longer in the eastern deciduous forest, so mating season extend into August. Even though mating occurs in June, fetal development takes place in the last 2 months of pregnancy after the fertilized egg implants in the uterus in November. Therefore the birth month is January after approximately 7 months of gestation period.
In the mid to late January or February, mother bear wake up to give birth to Cubs. They don't have specific mating pattern for hibernation, but hibernation increase fertility.
Diet
Black bear is Omnivores. Black bear have uncanny sense of smell to find fruit, nuts, plants and insect larvae. Also, very few prey to catch like nestling birds, new born mammals, penned livestock and spawning fish. They can't digest tougher cellulose portion of plants because lack of intestinal microorganisms, rumen and cecum. Their diet is varying and diverse depend on season and location.
Before hibernation, the bear voluntarily eat less, but continually drinking However, during the hibernation, they are not eating, drinking, urinating and defecating or anything.
American black bear is native to North America and Canadian provinces, Alaska, all states in United States . They live in forest as far south as Florida and northern Mexico and as far north as forest grow in Alaska and Canada.
For hibernation, black bear curls up into a ball in a cave, under the roots of the fallen tree, in a crevice, in a hollow tree or log or in a den it digs out and goes to sleep. So, they are found in a variety of habitats like tree covered area, meadow, in mount area, swamp, forests for hibernation.
Mating
Usually, late May to early July. Occasionally longer in the eastern deciduous forest, so mating season extend into August. Even though mating occurs in June, fetal development takes place in the last 2 months of pregnancy after the fertilized egg implants in the uterus in November. Therefore the birth month is January after approximately 7 months of gestation period.
In the mid to late January or February, mother bear wake up to give birth to Cubs. They don't have specific mating pattern for hibernation, but hibernation increase fertility.
Diet
Black bear is Omnivores. Black bear have uncanny sense of smell to find fruit, nuts, plants and insect larvae. Also, very few prey to catch like nestling birds, new born mammals, penned livestock and spawning fish. They can't digest tougher cellulose portion of plants because lack of intestinal microorganisms, rumen and cecum. Their diet is varying and diverse depend on season and location.
Before hibernation, the bear voluntarily eat less, but continually drinking However, during the hibernation, they are not eating, drinking, urinating and defecating or anything.
Interesting Facts
Self awareness is one of the tool to measure the intelligence of animals. Wild black bear see their reflection when they drink from pond, so the their image in the mirror is not surprise things to them. However, the captive bear response differently because they've never seen their reflection in water like wild bear.
The bear is making tongue-clicking sounds when they approach to another bear to make friendly contact like playing or mating. The bear not only to make these pleasant grunts to bear but also sometime to make people. The bear show his friendly intention such as licking person's mouth, face or head.
Self awareness is one of the tool to measure the intelligence of animals. Wild black bear see their reflection when they drink from pond, so the their image in the mirror is not surprise things to them. However, the captive bear response differently because they've never seen their reflection in water like wild bear.
The bear is making tongue-clicking sounds when they approach to another bear to make friendly contact like playing or mating. The bear not only to make these pleasant grunts to bear but also sometime to make people. The bear show his friendly intention such as licking person's mouth, face or head.