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American black bears appear in a variety of colors despite theirname. In the eastern part of their range, most of these bears have shinyblack fur, but in the west they grow brown, red, or even yellow coats. To thenorth, the black bear is actually gray or white in color. Even in the samelitter, both brown and black furred bears may be born. Black bears are the smallest of all American bears,ranging in length from five to six feet, weighing from three hundred tofive hundred pounds. Their eyes and ears are small and their eyesight andhearing are not as good as their sense of smell. Like all bears, the black bear is timid, clumsy, andrarely dangerous, but if attacked, most can climb trees and cover ground at great speeds. When angry or frightened, it is aformidable enemy.Black bears feed on leaves, herbs, roots, fruit, berries,insects, fish, and even larger animals. One of the most interestingcharacteristics of bears, including the black bear, is their winter sleep.Unlike squirrels, woodchucks, and many other woodland animals, bears do not Actually hibernate. Although the bear does not eat during the winter months,sustaining itself from body fat, its temperature remains almost normal, and itbreathes regularly four or five times per minute.Most black bearslive alone, except during mating season. They prefer tolive in caves, hollow logs, or dense thickets. A litter of oneto four cubs is born in January or February after a gestation period of six tonine months, and they remain with their mother until they are fullygrown or about one and a half years old. Black bears can live as long as thirtyyears in the wild, and even longer in game preserves set aside for them. | 
