Despite living in North America, American black bears are not closely related to brown bears or polar bears; genetic studies reveal that they split from a common ancestor … See more

Throughout their range, habitats preferred by American black bears have a few shared characteristics. They are often found in areas with relatively inaccessible terrain, thick … See more

American black bears have eyesight and hearing comparable to that of humans. Their keenest sense is smell, which is about seven times more sensitive than a domestic dog's. They … See more

• List of fatal bear attacks in North America See more

Historically, American black bears occupied the majority of North America's forested regions. Today, they are primarily limited to sparsely … See more

Build
The skulls of American black bears are broad, with narrow muzzles and large jaw hinges. In Virginia, the length of adult bear skulls was found to average 262 to 317 mm (10.3 to 12.5 in). Across its range, the greatest skull … See more

In folklore, mythology and culture
Indigenous
Black bears feature prominently in the stories of some of North America's indigenous peoples. … See more