Overview
The black bear is the smallest of the three North American bear species, the other two being the grizzly and polar bears.
The weight of black bears vary considerably. Adult females seldom reach 300 pounds, but males weighing over 700 pounds have been recorded. Bears in Arkansas are heavier than most. Males seven years of age or older usually exceed 400 pounds.
Black is the predominant color of black bears in the eastern U.S., but brown or "cinnamon" is more common in the West. In both instances, the breast may have a patch of white on it.
Bears have poor eyesight but have an extraordinary sense of smell and are one of Arkansas' most intelligent mammals.
The short-term outlook for Arkansas' black bears is bright. Bears have been restored and are increasing in many parts of the state. With proper management, the bear population in Arkansas has the potential to someday sustain harvests many times the current level. However, the long-term future of this animal is uncertain because of the threat of habitat destruction.
The black bear was once one of the most widely distributed mammals in North America, but today it is absent from many interior regions of the continent. Bears were extirpated in western Arkansas but successfully reintroduced in the 1950's and 1960's.
Black bear habitat requirements are quite varied. They need suitable denning sites, plenty of escape cover and a liberal supply of high quality foods.
Bear Breeding
Bears breed during the summer months, and males cover large areas searching for females. Young are born in the winter den. Mother and cubs emerge from the den by mid-May, and the cubs begin learning about life in the wild.
These cubs will again den with their mother the following winter and stay with her until the next summer when she finally drives them away.
Young are born in the winter den. Bear cubs are relatively undeveloped and small at birth, being only about eight inches in length. Two is the average litter size, but three are more common than one. Females produce a litter of cubs only once every two years because of the care the young require.
Bear cubs are relatively undeveloped and small at birth, being only about eight inches in length. Two is the average litter size, but three are more common than one.
Winter Denning
Winter denning is a fascinating aspect of bear biology. When black bears den, their heart and respiration rates decrease markedly. But unlike the "true hibernators," body temperature does not decrease drastically. This enables bears to rouse quickly from their winter sleep and occasionally make short ventures from dens on warm winter days.
Arkansas bears start searching for dens in early October, and most have denned by late December. Bears den in rock crevices, excavated burrows and cavities in standing trees. Tree cavity dens may be as high as 60 feet. Bears are important to medical science. Their ability to hold urine while denning, without any ill effects, has spurred medical research with the possibility it might lead to a better understanding of how to treat human kidney disease.
Bear Feeding Habits
Little food is available after bears emerge from their dens in spring. They lose weight during this period until later in the summer when blackberries, pokeberries and blueberries ripen. During autumn, bears feed heavily on fat-rich acorns and hickory nuts and commonly gain 100 pounds or more during this short time. This extra fat readies them for the rigors of winter denning. Consequently, acorn and other nut crops are vital for bears.
Black bears have large canine teeth typical of meat eaters, but their diet is mostly fruit, berries and nuts, with the majority of their "meat" being insects. When natural foods are scarce (usually in early summer), they may overcome their fear of people and seek food around human inhabitations. If a hungry, roaming bear finds an easy meal of pet food, garbage, or honey, it may hang around long enough to cause serious problems for the property owner or itself.
Living with Bears
Bears are a controversial species. Some people view them as a valuable natural resource, while others scorn them as a nuisance and threat. Bears are considered the ultimate symbol of wilderness, and their presence evokes feelings of reverence and awe in many.
Unfortunately, these intelligent animals sometimes learn to raid garbage sites, gain access to buildings where feed is stored, kill livestock or destroy bee hives. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission assists landowners by relocating problem bears.
Most nuisance bears are young males pushed into unlikely habitat by older, larger males. When these young bears get hungry, nuisance problems start.
When a bear is fed by people, it learns to associate people and food. This association will cause bears to investigate human activity whether or not food is present.
Please do not feed bears, in the end it will cause you trouble and them trouble as well.
Keeping garbage out of reach of bears is the easiest, most effective way to reduce bear problems. Don't stockpile garbage; haul it off or burn it. Keep storage containers airtight and odor free, using a scented disinfectant for cleaning. Store garbage in tightly sealed bags, or use your freezer to temporarily store strong-smelling foods like fish and meat. If possible, use bear-proof garbage containers.
Bears are fond of honey, a fact that accounts for numerous conflicts between bears and beekeepers. While beehive farming is not as large an industry in Arkansas' bear country as in other states, the loss of even one beehive can be significant.
Electric fences, often used to control livestock, can be effective in keeping back hungry bears. In addition, hive sites should be kept in open, well-mowed areas and you should avoid placing hives in abandoned or heavily wooded areas. Elevated platforms also restrict bears' access to hives.