Black Bear Behaviour:  Black Bears In Action

Why Hibernate?      Home Range      Feeding Habits      Daily Patterns     Social Behaviour

 Source:  Bear Aware

Food Supply & Feeding Habits

•  Black bears are foragers, opportunistic, and will scavenge for food 

•  Bears are referred to as omnivores (“everything-eaters”) because
   they eat a variety of plant and animal foods 

•  They are also carnivores ("meat eaters") 

•  Their favourite foods are: nuts, acorns, fruit, insects, succulent greens  

A Natural Diet For A Black Bear in Coastal Areas includes: 

•  Skunk cabbage

•  Huckleberry 

•  Blackberry 

•  Salmon-berry 

•  Devils club 

•  Spawning salmon 

•  Crustaceans 

•  Deer Fawns 

The Diet for Black Bears in the interior of BC includes: 

•  Skunk Cabbage

•  Huckleberry 

•  Blueberry 

•  Devil's club 

•  Spawning fish

•  Moose and elk calves and deer fawns

•  Insects

Black Bears Eat Different Foods In Each Season

•   When food is scarce, bears may eat meat and less succulent greens  

•   Too little nourishment may result in bears:

  • Not reproducing (having any cubs) 

  • Not growing  

  • Not developing properly 

    Check out a Bear's Diet Throughout the Seasons

    • Seasonal Foods 

    • Spring Foods 

    • Summer Foods 

    • Autumn Foods 

Source:  Bears In BC - Hinterland - BC Government

More on feeding habits of Black Bears

Black Bear Index

Black Bear Introduction
What Colour Are They?
What's Under All That Fur?
Black Bears In Action
Black Bear Activities
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