Despite their name, black bears aren’t always black. They come in a variety of colours, as evident with this cub duo. Black bears can be black, brown, ‘blonde’, bluish-gray, or, as in this instance, cinnamon.
Black Bear Cubs Keep A Close Eye On Mom
These two cubs are from the same litter, but they appear different. They follow their mother with all diligence, watching her closely as she walks with purpose across the grassy embankment.
She is a majestic, composed creature in spite of her large size. They are like all small animals… all over the place and highly curious.
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Black bears are the most widely distributed bear species in North America. There is an estimated population of 300,000 to 350,000 black bears in the United States. Further north, in Canada, the population is slightly bigger, with 450,000 to 476,000 individuals.
Alaska has the most black bears, with around 100,000 black bears estimated to be living there.
There are 16 recognised subspecies of black bear around the world. This means that there is a lot of diversity within the species itself. However, these cubs are from the same mother. Mother bears usually have two to three cubs in a litter, although a litter of up to five cubs is possible.
The cubs recognize their mother’s scent and vocalisations very early and will call on her if separated. However, they are not taking any chances on being separated from Mom.
They follow close on her tail and are highly dependent on her.
Black bear cubs are also naturally playful. This means that they engage in a lot of chasing, climbing, and wrestling. This play activity helps them build strength and coordination.
The cubs demonstrate playfulness as they totter along, stopping to inspect things as they walk.
Black bears live in a variety of terrains. Here, they are meandering across a grassy outcrop. They also live in forests and instinctively climb trees to escape danger, often within weeks of emerging from the den.
While these are a respectable size, black bear cubs are incredibly small when born. They typically weigh 230 to 340g (about the size of a soda can).
They are also born blind and hairless, and are completely dependent on their mother at birth.
They will follow mom and stay with her for the first 16 to 18 months of their lives. They typically stay with the mother for one full summer and will then den with her the next winter, before she finally drives them away.
Lessons In Survival From An Early Age
During this time, she will teach them essential survival skills, such as finding food, avoiding danger, and what and where to eat. They will learn this from watching and observing her.
For now, they are with mom and running to catch up. She’s a big bear and offers them the protection and nurturing they need at this young age. As they say, “mother knows best.”