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Black Bear
Black Bears (Ursus americanus) are the most numerous
member of the bear family in North America, and are found from the
Pacific to the Atlantic coast. There are an estimated 500-600 black
bears inhabiting Yellowstone National Park.
Black bears are not all black; their coats can be cinnamon, blonde,
brown or black. Brown -colored black bears are sometimes mistaken for
grizzlies. Black bears are smaller than grizzlies: adult males weigh
between 200 and 600 pounds, females between 150 and 400 pounds. The
black bear's rump is higher than it's shoulder, and it's head is
"Roman-nosed", rather than the grizzly's dish shape. Black bears feed on
a variety of grasses, roots, berries, and other plants, in addition to
small rodents and animal carcasses.
 Where
to find them
Black Bears can be seen most anywhere in Yellowstone at anytime. They
are often seen around the Tower area and in the Blacktail plateau area
between Tower and Mammoth Hot Springs. Lamar Valley is another good area
and along the Madison and Firehole rivers.
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