Pennsylvania's Bear Population on the Rise

Pennsylvania has been a home to the black bear (Ursus Americanus) since long before the earliest settlers arrived. Our perceptions of bears are a product of their mostly shy, mysterious nature and powerful presence, not to mention the timeless stories that have been told about them over the years. Unfortunately, there is as much misinformation about bears in circulation as there is fact. That's too bad because bears needn't be feared, nor should they be dismissed as harmless. They simply need to be respected.

Pennsylvania's bear population has been increasing for years, and human land use has also expanded. As a result, bears and people are coming into contact more than ever before. These encounters are occurring because development is encroaching into or occupying bear habitat, and bears have also learned that there is sometimes easy-to-obtain food where people live. Learning about bears and being aware of their habits is important for people who live in bear country, which now spreads throughout much of the state. Our largest bear populations, however, are still found in our northcentral and northeastern counties. Population estimates in recent years have ranged from 8,000 to 10,000 bears in Pennsylvania.

Black bears are very agile, can run up to 35 mph, climb trees and swim well. They may live up to 25 years in the wild, although few do. Black bears are intelligent and curious. Studies show bears can see colors, recognize human forms, and notice even the slightest movement. However, bears usually rely on their acute sense of smell and, to a lesser degree, hearing to locate food and danger. Despite their common name, black bears are not always black. They may be cinnamon-colored, blond or black. Adults usually weigh from 200 to 600 pounds, with rare individuals weighing up to 900 pounds. Males are called boars; females, sows. An adult male normally weighs more than an adult sow, sometimes twice as much. Black bears measure about three feet high when on all fours or about five to seven feet tall when standing upright.

Bears may be on the move at anytime, but they're usually most active at night or during early morning. The black bear is omnivorous, eating almost anything from berries, corn, acorns, beechnuts, or even grass to table scraps, carrion, honey and insects. During late summer and fall, black bears fatten up for winter hibernation. At this time, they may actively feed for up to 20 hours a day, ingesting up to 20,000 calories.

Text reference: Pennsylvania Game Commission. Photo was taken near WPC's Northwest Field Station at Union City, Pa.

Hear the sounds of a black bear mother and cub (courtesy of blackbear.org).

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