Table of Contents Preface Introduction to the First Edition Acknowledgements Part I. The Pre-History of Black Bears The Evolution of Black Bears The Evolution of Mammals The Carnivores Black Bears as Omnivores The Giant Short-Face Bear The Black Bear During the Ice Age Black Bear Subspecies and Range Part II. The World of Black Bears Adaptations for Forest Life Black Bear Habitat Territory and Home Range Black Bear Physical Characteristics Colour Phases: Black, Brown, White, and Blue Black Bear or Grizzly Bear? Shape and Colour Head and Ears Claws Name and Location Events Leading to Hibernation Hibernation Birth of Cubs Bear Cubs Mother and Cubs -- The First Year Making it Alone Male Bears Black Bear Diet Black Bears as Herbivores Black Bears as Carnivores Interactions with Other Species Scatology Black Bear Signs Tracks Scratches on Trees Bear Nests Beds and Dens Feeding Kills Population of Bears Monitoring Bear Populations Adapting to a Changing Habitat Climate Change Bear Mortality Part III. Putting a Value on Black Bears What is the Value of a Black Bear? Hunting Black Bears Viewing Bears Part IV. Getting Along in Bear Country Black Bears and People -- The Tolerant Bear Camping in Bear Country Do''s and Dont''s of Camping in Bear Country Bear What to Do When You Meet a Bear Tips and Suggestions Bear Spray Black Bears and People -- The Aggressive Bear Reading a Black Bear''s Behaviour Facial Expressions Body Language Fights Avoidance Vocalizations Other Behaviours Be Bear Smart Part V. Bear Tourism Where You Find Bears Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary Great Smoky Mountain National Park Yellowstone National Park Whistler Mountain Coastal Black Bears Other Places to View Bears Photographing Bears Part VI. In the Field Winter Field Research Day 1 Day 2 Summer Research Researching Bears of the Bruce Peninsula Bear With Us -- A Labour of Love Part VII. Black Bear Populations by Region The Continental United States Northeastern Bears: Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island Southern Bears: Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Northern Carolina, and Kentucky Gulf of Mexico Bears: Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi Central Bears: Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin Northwestern Bears: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Utah Plains: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas Southwestern Bears: California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada Canada and Alaska Eastern Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec Ontario Bears Western Bears: Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, Northwest Territory, and Nunavut Northwestern Bears: British Columbia, the Yukon Territory and Alaska Mexico Appendices I.

United States Black Bear Population by State II. Canadian Black Bear Population by Province and Territory III. Total Estimated North American Population IV. Black Bear Viewing Lodges and Tours V. Black Bear Viewing Areas & Opportunities Glossary Bibliography Index.