THE BEAR FACTS

Black bears are the smallest bears in North America. The average weight of an adult male bear is 100 to 200 kilograms; adult females weigh 45 to 140 kilograms. The width of an adult forefront print is 9-1/2 centimetres; the length of an adult rear footprint is about 18 cm.

They are forest-dwelling species and are usually shy and secretive, rarely venturing far from the security of forest cover. They can be found in about 74 per cent of Alberta.

Their diet varies by the season, but may include dandelions, berries, fish, insects, moose and caribou calves. Alberta black bears spend five to six months in winter dens, sometimes losing more than 30 per cent of their body weight. During that time, they do not eat, drink, defecate or urinate.