Minnesota, Natural History Photography Blog

Black bear in a tree. Black bears are expert tree climbers and will ascend trees if they sense danger or the approach of larger bears, to seek a place to rest, or to get a view of their surroundings. Orr, Minnesota, USA. Image: 18792   Species: Ursus americanus Location: Orr, Minnesota, USA View this Image in Google Earth!

Despite it’s cinnamon coloration, this is a American black bear (Ursus americanus). As can be seen, it is a natural climber. It will hustle up a tree if it feels threatened by the approach of a larger bear, or if it is seeking a quiet place to rest, or if it wants to get a better look at its surroundings.

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Black bear walking in a grassy meadow. Black bears can live 25 years or more, and range in color from deepest black to chocolate and cinnamon brown. Adult males typically weigh up to 600 pounds. Adult females weight up to 400 pounds and reach sexual maturity at 3 or 4 years of age. Adults stand about 3′ tall at the shoulder. Orr, Minnesota, USA. Image: 18806   Species: Ursus americanus Location: Orr, Minnesota, USA View this Image in Google Earth!

A mature American black bear (Ursus americanus) from my little outing to Minnesota late last month.

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Black bear cub in a tree. Mother bears will often send their cubs up into the safety of a tree if larger bears (who might seek to injure the cubs) are nearby. Black bears have sharp claws and, in spite of their size, are expert tree climbers. Orr, Minnesota, USA. Image: 18746   Species: Ursus americanus Location: Orr, Minnesota, USA View this Image in Google Earth!

This is a “spring cub”, an American black bear (Ursus americanus) cub that was born this spring. It will remain with its mother for about a year. At this size it is completely dependent on its mother for everything. A black bear cub is a natural climber and it is common for them to scamper 40 - 60′ up a tree trunk to avoid danger. Wedging itself in the crook of a branch, the cub will remain in the tree for hours until its mother grunts at the base of the tree, indicating it is time to come down.

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Black bear portrait. American black bears range in color from deepest black to chocolate and cinnamon brown. They prefer forested and meadow environments. This bear still has its thick, full winter coat, which will be shed soon with the approach of summer. Orr, Minnesota, USA. Image: 18742   Species: Ursus americanus Location: Orr, Minnesota, USA View this Image in Google Earth!

In spite of her color, this beautiful cinnamon-colored sow (see her little cub?) is an American black bear (Ursus americanus), not a brown or grizzly bear (Ursus arctos). Black bears range in color from deep black to chocolate, cinnamon and red shades. She will keep her cubs with her through next winter, close by her except when she leaves them in a tree for safety when she needs time alone. For now they are totally dependent on her ability to forage for food and find protection, and to teach them these skills. By next spring she will have “kicked out” the cubs, who by that time will be yearlings and able to fend for themselves.

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Black bear in a tree. Black bears are expert tree climbers and will ascend trees if they sense danger or the approach of larger bears, to seek a place to rest, or to get a view of their surroundings. Orr, Minnesota, USA. Image: 18745   Species: Ursus americanus Location: Orr, Minnesota, USA View this Image in Google Earth!

Unlike their larger brethren brown bears (Ursus arctos), black bears (Ursus americanus) are skilled tree climbers. At the approach of larger bears who may injure her cubs, a sow (mother) will grunt to signal that her cubs should climb the nearest tree immediately, which the cubs do with surprising speed. When the coast is clear the sow will grunt again and her cubs will scramble down. Fearful yearlings, who are at the bottom of the black bear social hierarchy and no longer have the protective company of their mothers, will bolt up a tree at the approach of almost any other bear and even a sudden loud noise from a passing bird or squirrel.

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Black bear walking in a grassy meadow. Black bears can live 25 years or more, and range in color from deepest black to chocolate and cinnamon brown. Adult males typically weigh up to 600 pounds. Adult females weight up to 400 pounds and reach sexual maturity at 3 or 4 years of age. Adults stand about 3′ tall at the shoulder. Orr, Minnesota, USA. Image: 18748   Species: Ursus americanus Location: Orr, Minnesota, USA View this Image in Google Earth!

Just back from four days photographing American black bears (Ursus americanus) in the woods of northern Minnesota. I shot from 6am until 7pm each day, stopping for a few passing thunderstorms. I saw about 30-40 bears plus about 12 spring cubs. Fortunately, having bathed in DEET several times each day and wearing clothes soaking in Permethrin, I got no mosquito or tick bites.

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