In ancient times, this species of bear was widespread in the territory of modern Europe, but it was quickly destroyed, and today it does not occur in natural conditions in European countries. How does a baribal (or black bear) differ from its clubfoot? What are his habits, external features? We will answer these and many other questions later in the article.
Spread
More recently, the black bear baribal inhabited the wooded and lowland areas of North America. But most of the population was exterminated or driven out by humans from the eastern and southeastern regions of the United States. By the beginning of the XXI century, the number of these animals does not exceed 200 thousand individuals. The baribal black bear shares most of its range with the grizzly bear.
The area of distribution of this animal is limited to mountainous areas with altitudes from 900 to 3,000 meters above sea level. Baribal is a bear that today lives in Canada and thirty-two US states. Small populations are recorded in Mexico.
As a rule, he prefers to settle in forests and areas that are not very densely populated by people. In Canada, baribal (bear) occupies most of its historical range. He avoids only the areas of the central plains, where agriculture is actively developing. Although occasionally comes into these territories.
Baribal (black bear): appearance
This animal, unlike its larger counterparts, is notable for its average size. The muzzle is somewhat pointed, the legs are high, with very long claws. The coat is short and smooth. Most often, just below the throat he can see a white, light brown or beige spot. Ears are large, widely set. Despite some external resemblance to a grizzly bear, the baribal is a bear that does not have a front hump.
The body length of the animal is 1.5 m, the length of the tail is about a meter, the length of the auricle is 80 mm. A black bear weighs an average of 135 kg, although cases have been officially recorded when individual individuals reached significantly more weight (250 kg). Females are about a third smaller than males.
The life expectancy of this species, according to researchers, is about twenty-five years, although its rare representatives live up to ten years. This fact is explained by environmental conditions and poaching. More than 90% of the deaths of baribal after 18 months are somehow connected with a meeting with a person - shots of hunters or poachers, a car accident, etc.
Color
Baribal, a description of which can be found in the special literature on wild animals, as a rule, has black, less often black-brown fur. The exception is only the end of the muzzle, painted in light yellow. At the same time, even in one brood, cubs of chocolate-brown and bluish-black color can be born.
Usually a brown hue is characteristic of young animals. Baribal is a bear that is significantly inferior in size to the brown fellow, but this species is not inferior to it in terms of variety of color. In addition to black or black-brown, light brown representatives of the species are found on the western coast of the USA, the Alaskan variety is distinguished by silver-blue fur (glacial bears), animals that live on Gribbel Island have a white fur coat. But all varieties have a characteristic feature - the light yellow end of the muzzle.
Where does baribal live
Black bears feel comfortable in areas combining forests and meadows. Ideal habitats for them are forests with various kinds of nuts and fruits. In small sunny meadows, these animals find their food. Wetlands and lowlands provide them with juicy and tender plant foods, and streams and small rivers in a wooded area - with drinking water. In addition, they are used clubfoot for cooling in the summer heat.
Bears with growing offspring need large trees, and their trunk diameter should be at least 50 cm. The bark should be ribbed (for example, white pine trees). These trees are the safest for little teddy bears who are just learning to climb, and are a great place to arrange an overnight stay.
Does baribal have any enemies?
Yes, and there are a lot of them. Baribal is a bear that avoids open areas due to fear of an attack by larger and stronger brown bears. That is why he prefers to settle in wooded areas. Gray wolves, coyotes, cougars often prey on cubs. Nevertheless, most of the killed baribals are adult animals, and a person kills them.
Food
Baribal - the bear is rather timid, non-aggressive and omnivorous. In food, he is completely picky and illegible. It feeds mainly on plant foods, larvae and insects. Black bears cannot be called active predators: they consume most vertebrates only in the form of carrion. However, the baribal will not refuse small rodents: beavers, rabbits, can cope with a small deer.
Baribal eats as much food as his stomach can hold. After that, he goes to bed, and when he wakes up, he again searches for food. Depending on the season, up to 80-95% of its diet is plant foods. In spring (April-May), baribal mainly eats herbs. In June, their diet becomes a little more diverse: insects, larvae and ants appear, and in the autumn the bear regales on berries, mushrooms and acorns.
When salmon schools of fish rise in some Alaskan rivers and Canada, black bears gather on the banks and in shallow water to fish. It must be said that autumn for baribal is a critical period. At this time, he needs to stock up on fat for the winter. This is especially important for females who will feed offspring during the winter. Black bears accumulate fat reserves due to eating a large number of fruits, acorns and nuts.
Baribal: reproduction
Immediately after waking from hibernation, baribals mate. This occurs in May – July. Pregnancy lasts up to two hundred and twenty days. It is interesting that the pregnancy in the bear does not develop immediately, but only in late autumn. And only if she accumulates the necessary amount of fat. Another interesting feature: two or three teddy bears are born in winter, at a time when their mother sleeps very soundly.
Babies are born weighing no more than 450 grams. They independently find a way to fatty and warm milk, and by spring their weight already reaches 5 kg. Bear cubs everywhere follow their mother, receiving lessons from her for all occasions. They leave her only the next year, when the time comes for the next mating.
Lifestyle
The black bear is a great climber, he climbs trees perfectly, even at a very advanced age. These are cautious animals, with a strongly developed sense of smell, exceptional hearing. In the day, in search of food or a sexual partner, baribals cross significant distances:
- young animals, the same age - 1.6 km;
- adult males - 12 km;
- adult females - 9 km.
The maximum recorded length of a daily walk was about 200 km.
Baribal quickly runs uphill or on a horizontal surface, developing a speed of up to 55 km / h. These animals are also good swimmers, swimming in fresh water for at least 2.5 km.
Black bears prefer to feed early in the morning or in the evening, when the heat of the day subsides. However, some are active at night. They try to avoid meeting other bears and people. The brain of a black bear is quite large in relation to body size. The animal has an excellent memory. It is considered one of the most intelligent mammals.
Employees of the Georgia National Wildlife Sanctuary state that black bears, when caught in poaching outside the reserve, behave remarkably smartly. They flee to the park and leave the employees to settle issues with angry farmers themselves, while at that time they calmly walk along the park's border.
And finally, some interesting facts:
- The black bear is a popular heraldic symbol. In many countries, his image is used in the arms: in Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia.
- The London Beefeaters - the famous Queen of Great Britain's guard - wear tall hats made of Canadian baribaly fur.
- Baribal is endowed by nature with good color vision.