American Black Bear

The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is the smallest of the three bear species occurring in Northern America (the others are the Grizzly and the Polar Bear). Nevertheless, if it is your first meeting with a bear – whatever the species, it will be breathtaking! The animals are feeding mostly on plants, but animals from tiny insects to young deer or moose contribute to the diet. Attacks on humans are generally rare, however black bears can get attracted to food in your car and will open it like a can…

The photos in this post were made in Sequoia National Park during a tour through California in October 2009. Two bears were foraging through the underground between the huge trees. As you can see, only one is truely black, as the bears can have colours ranging from grey to reddish and brown. It got quite hectic as one of them suddenly crossed the street only few metres away – a moment to remember!

American Black Bear

foraging in the woods

let’s frighten some tourists!

I’m coming!

a brown Black Bear