The Florida Black Bear - Basic Facts Ursus americanus floridanus -> Subspecies of the American black bear -> Only species of bear found in FL
Largest land mammal in FL
Typically large-bodied with shiny black fur, a light brown nose and a short stubby tail
A white chest patch is also common on many but not all the bears
The average male weighs about 300 pounds and a few have grown over 500 pounds
Females generally weigh an average of 198 pounds
Average adults have a length of between 4 -6 feet and stand between 2.5 and 3.5 feet high at the shoulder
Bears are mainly solitary, except when in groups or pairing during mating season
Bears have good eyesight, acute hearing and excellent sense of smell
Females have their first litter at about 3 1/2 years old and generally have a litter every other year
Breeding season in Florida runs from June - August and cubs are born late January & early February
Bears are excellent climbers and often climb trees when they are frightened
Diet: about 80% of the black bears diets comes from plants (fruit, nuts, berries,), 15% from insects (termites, ants, yellow jackets) and 5% from meat (opossum, armadillos, carrion)
While bears may defend a food resource or mate while present, they are not territorial
A bear’s living space that provides food, water and qdeaute cover is called a ‘Home Range’ -> the size of the home range may vary each season and year depending on food availability, the bear’s sex or age, reproductive status of the bear and the density of the area’s bear population
Bears are curious and standing up on hind legs is not a sign of aggretssion, they just want to get a better view
Habitat: Mainly forested areas, common in sand pine scrub, scrub oak, upland hardwood forests and forested wetlands
Adult males usually live within a 60 square mile area, whereas females usually live within a 15 square mile area
The occupied range has been reduced to 6 core areas (Eglin, Apalachicola, Osceola, Ocala, St. Johns, and Big Cypress) and 2 remnant areas (Chassahowitzka and Glades/Highlands)
Before FL was settled by Europeans, black bears occupied all of the FL mainland with a population about 12,000
The Florida Black Bear - Basic Facts
Ursus americanus floridanus
-> Subspecies of the American black bear
-> Only species of bear found in FL
Sources:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/bear/
Joyce Kleen (personal communication)