Ursus americanus americanus

(Pallas, 1780)

Vernacular names
English : American black bear
French : Ours noir d’Amérique

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Ursidae
Notes : 15 other subspecies known.

Identification
Body length of 190 cm, tail length of 12 cm, weight of 400 kg. Straight facial profile, short legs, round ears. Coloration is generally entirely black, sometimes with brown areas on flanks. Some specimens entirely brown or cream. Clear snout.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in North America, from Alaska and north Canada to scattered locations in western, south central, southern and far eastern USA. Lives in subarctic, temperate, boreal and subtropical forests, swamps, to 3500 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is currently the commonest bear species in the wild. It is locally very common but has suffered from hunting, persecution and habitat loss.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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