Black bears are omnivores, eating berries, roots, grasses and other plant matter, insects, small mammals, carrion and fish.
Females reach sexual maturity at 5 to 9 years of age. Mating usually takes place in July. Pairs may come together for a few hours or several days, copulating many times. Cubs are born in their mother's winter den in January or February. Cubs generally remain with their mother for a year and a half before venturing out on their own.
Like people, bears are curious, intelligent and potentially dangerous. But many bears die each year because people are afraid of them, and/or have not learned how to share habitat with them. By respecting bears and learning proper behavior in bear habitat, people can learn to live and recreate safely among bears.