According to the Alabama’s TREASURED Forests online magazine titled, “Living with Black Bears in Alabama,” published in the summer of 2016, there are an estimated 450 American black bears living in Alabama (Rainer). Today we are going to learn about the American black bear. I have done extensive research on the Internet about the black bear. In this speech, I will inform you about the habitat requirements of the American black bear, their food habits, and the dangers they face. First, let’s talk about the habitat requirements of the American black bear.
Black bears require an abundance of space and privacy. The ideal habitat would include the characteristics of inaccessible terrain, thick understory vegetation, escape cover, denning sites, …show more content…
Only a small portion of their diet consists of animal matter (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). Black bears are not active predators and they prefer to feed on the carcasses of dead animals (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). They tend to receive most of their protein by feeding on insects such as ants, beetles, termites, and bees (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). Grasses, nuts, berries, acorns, fruit, and roots make up most of a black bear’s diet (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). A black bear’s diet is typically high in carbohydrates, but they favor high protein and fatty foods, which explains why they often dig in trash cans and steal human food (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). Bears eat mostly in the summer and fall seasons, preparing for hibernation (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). In summer, bears will eat the vast variety of berry crops that become available to them. In fall, they will amass most of their fat reserves from eating fruits, nuts, and acorns (Dewey and Kronk). After emerging from their winter dens in spring, black bears tend to lose weight because of food scarcity but will continue to survive partially off the body fat they stored for the winter (Dewey and Kronk). Bears have a keen sense of smell and will travel several miles for food (Dewey and Kronk). Finally, let’s discuss the dangers that
Black bears require an abundance of space and privacy. The ideal habitat would include the characteristics of inaccessible terrain, thick understory vegetation, escape cover, denning sites, …show more content…
Only a small portion of their diet consists of animal matter (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). Black bears are not active predators and they prefer to feed on the carcasses of dead animals (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). They tend to receive most of their protein by feeding on insects such as ants, beetles, termites, and bees (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). Grasses, nuts, berries, acorns, fruit, and roots make up most of a black bear’s diet (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). A black bear’s diet is typically high in carbohydrates, but they favor high protein and fatty foods, which explains why they often dig in trash cans and steal human food (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). Bears eat mostly in the summer and fall seasons, preparing for hibernation (Florida State University; Tallahassee Museum). In summer, bears will eat the vast variety of berry crops that become available to them. In fall, they will amass most of their fat reserves from eating fruits, nuts, and acorns (Dewey and Kronk). After emerging from their winter dens in spring, black bears tend to lose weight because of food scarcity but will continue to survive partially off the body fat they stored for the winter (Dewey and Kronk). Bears have a keen sense of smell and will travel several miles for food (Dewey and Kronk). Finally, let’s discuss the dangers that