American Black Bear: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Bears · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. A black bear's best sense is smell: its nose is roughly seven times keener than a pet dog's.
2. When a black bear hibernates, its heart slows from 40-50 beats a minute to just 8.
3. Black bears on northern coasts, especially the Pacific, fish for salmon at night because salmon easily spot their black fur by day.
4. Black bears are strong swimmers, and they often climb trees to eat, to flee danger and even to hibernate.
5. Worried cubs squeal, bawl or scream. Happy or nursing cubs hum like a little motor.

The quiz

1. How much more sensitive is a black bear's sense of smell than a dog's?

• About twice
• About seven times (correct)
• About three times
• About twenty times

Its nose is roughly seven times keener than a dog's.

2. How slow does a hibernating black bear's heart beat?

• 20 beats per minute
• 30 beats per minute
• 40 beats per minute
• 8 beats per minute (correct)

During hibernation the heart rate drops to 8 beats per minute.

3. Why do black bears on the Pacific coast fish for salmon at night?

• Salmon easily spot their black fur by day (correct)
• Salmon only swim at night
• The water is warmer at night
• Their cubs sleep at night

Salmon easily spot the bears' black fur in daytime, so the bears fish at night.

4. What do black bears regularly do in trees?

• Hunt fish
• Dry their fur
• Feed, flee danger and hibernate (correct)
• Build summer nests

They climb trees to eat, flee danger and hibernate.

5. What sound do black bear cubs make when comfortable or nursing?

• A loud roar
• A motor-like hum (correct)
• A bird-like chirp
• A sharp whistle

Comfortable or nursing cubs hum like a little motor.

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