Number 10

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
Black bears are present in the
southern Appalachian Mountains
and the coastal bays and swamps of
North Carolina. The best habitat is
provided in old forests dominated by
hardwoods containing a variety of
mast-producing tree and shrub
species. Bears typically require
extensive, rugged country with
dense thickets, swamps, bays, or
rock outcrops, and room to travel
widely with little contact with
agriculture or livestock production
areas.
Bears occasionally will
cause
damage
in
livestock
operations,
apple
orchards,
cornfields or by feeding on the inner
bark of some desired tree species.

Food
Black bears are omnivorous. The bulk
of their diet is hard and soft mast,
insects, animal matter and succulent
plants. The amount and types of food
eaten by bears varies according to
seasonal activities and food availability.
Pre-denning
(Aug - Nov)
Hard Mast
Blackgum
Holly Berries
Black Cherry
Dogwood Berries
Sassafras
Persimmon
Insects
Animals
Pokeberry
Greenbrier
Denning*
(Dec - Mar)
Hard Mast
Greenbrier
Corn
Gallberries
*Some bears may be active throughout
the winter denning season.

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Department of Agriculture,
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Post-denning
(Apr & May)
Arrow Arum
Greenbrier
Grasses
Pokeberry
Squaw Root
Tree Cambium
Insects
Animals
Breeding
(Jun & Jul)
Blackberry
Huckleberry
Blueberry
Serviceberry
Viburnum
Insects
Animals

North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Forest Resources

Page 2

Cover
Bear have keen senses of smell and hearing,
but their vision is less acute. Near areas of
human activity, they often bed down in dense
thickets in daytime and do much of their
moving at sunrise and sunset. Small bears
sometimes use trees for resting places.
Bears go into winter dormancy from
December through March in the southern
Appalachians.

Escape Cover

Rugged terrain such as steep, rocky,

mountainous slopes

Mountainsides laced with laurel,

rhododendron, grapes, greenbrier
or other thickets

Extensive areas with minimal human

disturbance

Large swamps with dense briars and

canes, stream channels and standing
water

Carolina bays and pocosins

Home Range
Typical black bear densities range from
one bear per square mile to one bear per
seven square miles. The home range of
bears in the Southeast ranges from 6 to 19
square miles for females to 18 to 160
square miles for males. Home ranges
must include den sites, food, water and
cover for adults and young. Home ranges
and bear densities may vary considerably
depending on available food sources.
Mast shortages may result in considerable
wandering, so other important fall and
winter foods should be maintained at high
levels to deter movement into areas where
bears are more vulnerable or troublesome.

The most important element of escape cover

is protection from people, dogs, and off-road
vehicles.
Water
Bears require water daily. Two or more
sources of permanent open water per square
mile of range should be available.

N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Working With Wildlife # 10 - Black Bear

Page 3

TIPS FOR IMPROVING

BLACK BEAR HABITAT

General:
Provide large expanses of mature
forest, predominantly mast-producing
hardwood

Protect streamside zones

Rotation:
Manage for long rotations in hardwood
types (60 years or more)

Limit harvesting to 25 acre stands or

less

Retain bottomland
swamp
sites

hardwood

and

Regeneration:
Avoid extensive clearcutting and seed
tree regeneration methods

Intermediate Treatments:
Thin occasionally to encourage crown
growth, yet avoid frequent disturbances,
limit use of herbicides

Regenerate no more than 10% of total

management area in a 10 year period

Burn frequently (3 to 5 years) to

encourage herbaceous growth
Direct Improvements:
Retain trees with large cavities and
retain
sheltering stems around
openings

Plant open areas with fruiting shrubs or

grains

Plant or encourage growth of fruit and

nut trees

Select and retain large diameter trees

with potential to develop large cavities

Limit access and

management area

disturbance

to

Species That Benefit From Black Bear Management

Numerous game and nongame species benefit from black bear management. Rather than
focusing on a single species, habitat management plans should emphasize the communities which
include black bears. The following species benefit from black bear management:
Gray Squirrel
White-tailed Deer
Great-horned Owl
Pileated Woodpecker

Raccoon
Wood Duck
American Redstart
Ruffed Grouse

Prepared by:
Michael S. Mitchell, Graduate Research Assistant,
Mark A. Megalos, Extension Forestry Specialist,
Edwin J. Jones, Department Extension Leader
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Working With Wildlife # 10 - Black Bear

Page 4

Cost share assistance may be available through the Stewardship Incentive Program for these
practices. See your Wildlife Biologist, Forester, or Extension Agent for more information about
the Forest Stewardship Program.

Other Wildlife Notes Available:

No. 1 - Endangered Species
No. 14 - Snags and Downed Logs
No. 2 - Eastern Gray Squirrel
No. 15 - Managing Edges for Wildlife
No. 3 - White-tailed Deer
No. 16 - Building Songbird Boxes
No. 4 - Songbirds
No. 17 - Woodland Wildlife Nest Boxes
No. 5 - Wild Turkey
No. 18 - Low Cost Habitat Improvements
No. 6 - Wood Duck
No. 19 - Pools for Amphibians
No. 7 - Cottontail Rabbit
No. 20 - Hummingbirds and Butterflies
No. 8 - Bobwhite Quail
No. 21 - Bats
No. 9 - Ruffed Grouse
No. 22 - Owls
No. 10 - Black Bear
No. 23 - Managing Beaver Ponds
No. 11 - Raccoon
No. 24 - Herbaceous Plants for Wildlife
No. 12 - Mourning Dove
No. 25 - SIP Wildlife Opportunities
No. 13 - Wildlife Terms

FOREST STEWARDSHIP
a cooperative program for
improving and maintaining all of the
resources on private forestland

9-94-4M-WWW-10
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Working With Wildlife # 10 - Black Bear