The American Black Bear - Waco, TX - Flora and Fauna Information Signs on Waymarking.com

The black bear is the Baylor University mascot. At this time there is a male and female in the habitat. Needless to say, they stay inside where it is air conditioned so you probably won't see them when you visit the habitat.

---

THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR
(URSUS AMERICANUS)

The American Black Bear ranges through much of North America from Mexico to Alaska and from Florida to southern Canada. Living in a temperate climate, it is a forest animal, though its habitat is highly varied. It is also widely varied in coloration. This diversity of color is greater among bears in western North America than anywhere else in the world. However, the color of an individual bear is relatively uniform, a brown snout being the norm for all of the species. The coat consists of a soft, dense underfur which serves as insulation covered by a layer of long, coarse, thick hair.

The American Black Bear may or may not hibernate, depending upon weather and food supply. Although these bears take five years to mature, they may breed at three. Bears are mostly nocturnal, but they sometimes feed and travel by day. The average life span is 18 years in the wild and 25 years in captivity. Adaptable, it accepts environmental changes well, for it is canny and demonstrates considerable vitality. Known for its remarkable dexterity, this species is capable of opening screw-top jars and manipulating door latches. The American Black Bear is also an excellent climber. An adult American Black Bear can vary in weight from 125 to 600 pounds. At six weeks old, the American Black Bear averages 2 pounds; at six months, 40 to 60 pounds. The heaviest bear on record weighed 803 pounds.

Visit Instructions:
Take a photo of yourself (and others) at the waymark and feel free to share any additional information or that is not contained on the sign or your experience generally.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   10/15/2023 Max and 99 visited it