Adirondack Wildlife-Black Bear

The Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) is an Adirondack native but is common acrossed North America. The Adirondack Black Bear lives up to it's name, "black" but can range in color from black to gray, and from brown to cinnamon. The bears range in size from 36" to 41" tall, 200-600 lbs. Their range on average is 8-10 square miles, but can be as much as 15 square miles. Though they may appear clumsy, the Black Bear can reach speeds up to 30 mph. The creatures are excellent swimmers and equally adept at tree-climbing. The Black Bear is not a true "hibernator"; after fattening up during the fall, the bear becomes very lethargic during the winter months but may occasionally awake. Consequently, it may be spotted any time during the year. The Black Bear is omnivorous, sustaining mainly on vegetation. Fish and other mammals round out their diets.