New Mexico Symbols, Animal: Black Bear

Adopted on February 8, 1963

Smokey the Bear, probably the most famous bear in the history of the United States, was a New Mexico black bear cub found alive in a tree after a massive forest fire in the Lincoln National Forest near Capitan, NM. In 1950, the U.S. Forest Service and the Advertising Council utilized Smokey as the symbol for fire prevention campaigns conducted all over the country. Smokey received much notoriety, lived to a ripe old age, and was buried at Smokey Bear State Park in Capitan.
 

Anatomy: American Black Bears are up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long and weigh up to 300 pounds (135 kg). Their long, thick fur ranges in color from black to brown. Like all bears, they are plantigrade (flat-footed). The front claws are longer than the rear claws. Its habitat in West Virginia is primarily in the eastern mountain region. The black bear still roams freely throughout 36 states and Canada.

Behavior: Black Bears are good swimmers and can also climb trees. They have a good sense of smell but have poor eyesight. They are afraid of Grizzly Bears and stay far away from them.

Cubs: Two to three cubs are born during the winter while the mother hibernates. Cubs stay with the mother for about one year.

Diet: American Black Bears are omnivores who eat plants, leaves, fruits, berries, nuts, roots, honey, insects, and other small mammals.

Reproduction: Females reach sexual maturity at 3 to 4 years of age and mating will take place in June, July and August. Pairs may come together for a few hours or several days, copulating many times. Gestation is approximately 220 days and the cubs are born in their mother's winter den in January or February. Cubs are weaned at around 8 months but may remain with their mother for a year and a half.

Social Organization: Black bears are usually solitary animals except females with young. A pair may come together for several days during mating season and in time of abundant food, several bears may feed closely together with little interaction. Male bears keep large territories that overlap the smaller ranges of several females. Bears will leave territorial signposts both through scent marking and by leaving long claw marks in tree bark.