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Black Bear Mating Habits

Black bears (Ursus americanus) live throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, from the Pacific northwest to the northern Rockies, from New England to the Great Lakes and the Ozarks, and from the Appalachians of northern Georgia to Florida. The solitary animal ranges in size from 130 to 300 lbs. and feeds on acorns, berries, grass, herbs, insects and carrion. Each spring, American black bears undergo an elaborate mating ritual to ensure the propagation of their species.

Mating Basics
- From May through August each year, after awakening from hibernation, black bears abandon their usually solitary behavior and socialize in order to procreate. The height of black bear mating season occurs in June. Female black bears reach sexual maturity between ages 2 and 9. Once they give birth for the first time, females mate every other year and rear cubs during the off years. Male bears copulate with as many females as they can during mating season and may father a number of litters.
Scent Trails and Showdowns
- During mating season, male black bears assume unusually large territories measuring 10 to 15 miles in diameter. Each territory encompasses the territory of seven to 15 female black bears, some of which may have cubs. Female bears that don't have cubs leave scent trails by marking trees, small plants, stones and other environmental elements. Male bears follow scents in search of sexually mature females. Sometimes, two males pick up the scent trail of the same female, which can lead to a violent showdown. Male bears aged 10 and older are large enough to intimidate younger bears without fighting.
Courtship and Mating
- Once a male has located a female by following her scent trail, the pair spends a few days locked in courtship rituals. Female bears may be wary of males at first, leading the male bear to edge slowly closer over the course of a few days. Once the female grows accustomed to the presence of the male, the two nuzzle and communicate at close range before copulating. Several copulations take place over the course of two to three days. Initial copulations last only a few minutes, though later copulations may last as long as an hour.
Additional Information
- Like male black bears, female bears may mate with multiple partners during one mating season. Female bears exhibit unique behavior in that pregnant animals do not always have babies. A fertilized bear egg does not attach to the uterine wall until a female bear settles to hibernate. If the bear is not in peak physical condition, the egg may not attach.
  
  Male black bears eat very little during mating season; they invest the majority of their energy into seeking out female black bears. Because of this, male black bears lose as much as 20 percent of their body mass during mating season.

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