Hobbies And Interests
Physical Characteristics and Behaviors
The species of black bear found in Michigan has dark black fur. The adult female weighs 90 to 300 lbs. and males 130 to 500 lbs. The adult male standing on two feet is as tall as 10 feet. They have powerful, long, curved and nonretractable claws that can serve as deadly weapons in time of need. The female bear is called a "sow" and the male bear a "boar." It is possible to distinguish between the genders because the male's penis and female's nipples are visible when they are standing. A black bear's life span is about 30 years. They are territorial animals; they claw and rub their bodies to mark their territory. They are good swimmers and tree climbers. They are known to swim for pleasure as well as fishing.
Disposition
By nature, black bears are naturally shy. They prefer to beat a hasty retreat when they come across humans. However, they can attack and kill a human being if they feel threatened, especially a mother with small cubs. The bears of Michigan are unafraid of man and will venture very close to human habitat in search for food. "Do not feed bears" is advice not so much for the bear's stomach as for its growing dependency and demanding demeanor for food. Bears that are fed by humans and suddenly cut off from the food supply may also react aggressively for food. Although they are shy of humans, they are not afraid of them, and their innate curiosity and attraction for food often pulls them toward human habitats. Still, there is no recorded instance of a black bear killing a human in Michigan. There are, however, many reports of bears intimidating people to steal their food.
Feeding Habits of the Black Bear
These animals are at their peak activity at dawn and dusk. They are omnivorous but prefer plants, fruit and berries. Black bears are voracious eaters during the fall as they prepare for hibernation. During this period they can gain up to 2 lbs. per day. Among the animal matter bears feast on are larvae, beetles, ants and many other insects. In case of food scarcities, they are able to catch, kill and eat small animals such as lizards, squirrels, beavers and, in extreme conditions, even large animals such as deer and elk. They are not fussy about what they eat and have been seen stealing and feeding on carrion. They can fight with smaller predators such as the lynx and steal their kill when hungry.
Mating and Caring for the Young
The mating season for black bears is for about three weeks in June or July. The sow, which becomes sexually active at about 3 to 5 years of age, usually gives birth to two but sometimes as many as six cubs after a gestation period of about eight months. The cubs are born naked (without any fur), blind and unable to regulate their body heat. The sow feeds them milk for about 30 weeks. At about 18 months, they attain full independence from their mother.
Hibernation
Black bears can be efficient hibernators that can go without food, water, defecation or urination for months. However, their body temperature does not vary much during hibernation, while normal hibernating animals lower their body temperature to that of the environment. This is one reason why the black bear can awake easily from hibernation and start foraging if the temperature is mild. In Michigan, black bears start hibernating in late October and end around April or May.