The American black bear is the smallest of the three bears species found in North America, and are found only in North America. Black bears have short, non-retractable claws that give them an excellent tree-climbing ability. 

Black bear fur is usually a uniform color except for a brown muzzle and light markings that sometimes appear on their chests.  Eastern populations are usually black in color while western populations often show brown, cinnamon, and blond coloration in addition to black.  Black bears with white-bluish fur are known as Kermode (glacier) bears and these unique color phases are only found in coastal British Columbia, Canada. 

It is estimated that there are at least 600,000 black bears in North America.  In the United States, there are estimated to be over 300,000 individuals. However, the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolu) and Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) are threatened subspecies with small populations (see Status/Protection).

The American black bear is distributed throughout North America, from Canada to Mexico and in at least 40 states in the U.S.  They historically occupied nearly all of the forested regions of North America, but in the U.S. they are now restricted to the forested areas less densely occupied by humans.  In Canada, black bears still inhabit most of their historic range except for the intensively farmed areas of the central plains.  In Mexico, black bears were thought to have inhabited the mountainous regions of the northern states but are now limited to a few remnant populations.

The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is a species of bear that can reach masses of 130–700 kg (290–1550 pounds). The Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), the Kodiak Bear and the Mexican Brown Bear are North American subspecies of the Brown Bear. It is sometimes referred to poetically as the bruin.

Life history: Mating takes place from May through July with the peak of activity in early June. Brown bears generally do not have strong mating ties. Individual bears are rarely seen with a mate for more than a week. Males may mate with more than one female during breeding season. The hairless young, weighing less than a pound, are born the following January or February in a winter den. Litter size ranges from one to four cubs, but two is most common. Offspring typically separate from their mothers as 2-year olds in May or June. Following separation, the mother can breed again and produce a new litter of cubs the following year. In some parts of Alaska, research results reveal that offspring may not separate from their mothers until they are 3 to 5 years old. This appears to be most common in areas where food is scarce. In some of these areas, females may skip one to three years before producing new litters.

Bear populations vary depending on the productivity of the environment. In areas of low productivity, such as on Alaska’s North Slope, studies have revealed bear densities as low as one bear per 300 square miles. In areas teeming with easily available food, such as Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska, densities as high as one bear per square mile have been found. In central Alaska, both north and south of the Alaska Range, bear densities tend to be intermediate, about one bear per 15-23 square miles. These are average figures which shouldn’t be interpreted to mean that each bear has this much territory for its exclusive use. The area occupied by any individual bear may overlap that used by many other individuals.

Safety: All brown bears should be treated with respect and can be safely observed only from a distance of at least 100 yards. This is especially true for family groups of a female and her offspring as mother bears are very protective towards their young. Bears protecting a food source, such as the buried carcass of a moose or caribou, should also be treated with special caution. In bear country, campers can best avoid conflicts with bears if they minimize food odors, store their food out of a bear’s reach and away from their camp, and avoid camping on bear travel routes.

Polar bears are among the largest predators in the world. They range in color from pure white after a molt to a yellowish shade resulting from solar oxidation or staining by oil from seal blubber. Their skin, nose and lips are black in color. Polar bears’ long neck and narrow skull aid in streamlining the animal in water, and their large, flat and oar-like front feet make them strong swimmers. Their fur is thicker than any other bears’ even covering their feet, for warmth and traction on ice. Polar bears also have a thick layer of blubber which provides buoyancy and insulation.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) estimates that there are between 20,000-25,000 polar bears in the world.

Polar bears are distributed throughout the arctic region in 19 subpopulations. Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and Norway have polar bear populations.

The giant panda, a black-and-white bear, has a body typical of bears. It has black fur on ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and shoulders. The rest of the animal's coat is white. Although scientists do not know why these unusual bears are black and white, some speculate that the bold coloring provides effective camouflage into their shade-dappled snowy and rocky surroundings. The panda's thick, wooly coat keeps it warm in the cool forests of its habitat. Giant pandas have large molar teeth and strong jaw muscles for crushing tough bamboo. Many people find these chunky, lumbering animals to be cute, but giant pandas can be as dangerous as any other bear.

Adult giant pandas are generally solitary, but they do communicate periodically through scent marks, calls, and occasional meetings. Offspring stay with their mothers from one and a half to three years.

The giant panda has lived in bamboo forests for several million years. It is a highly specialized animal, with unique adaptations.   

Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. They once lived in lowland areas, but farming, forest clearing, and other development now restrict giant pandas to the mountains.

Giant pandas reach breeding maturity between four and eight years of age. They may be reproductive until about age 20. Female pandas ovulate only once a year, in the spring. A short period of two to three days around ovulation is the only time she is able to conceive. Calls and scents draw males and females to each other.

Female giant pandas give birth between 95 and 160 days after mating. Although females may give birth to two young, usually only one survives. Giant panda cubs may stay with their mothers for up to three years before striking out on their own. This means a wild female, at best, can produce young only every other year; in her lifetime, she may successfully raise only five to eight cubs. The giant pandas’ naturally slow breeding rate prevents a population from recovering quickly from illegal hunting, habitat loss, and other human-related causes of mortality.

Asiatic black bears have long black fur with a distinct white patch on the chest that is often crescent-shaped. The fur around the shoulders and throat is particularly long, and their ears are relatively large.

Asiatic black bears live in eastern Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Asiatic black bears mate from June to July and give birth during January and February. Females give birth to 1-4 cubs, which are born blind and helpless.

The subspecies U.t.gedrosianus (Baluchistan) is listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered, but other subspecies are classified as Vulnerable. They are on CITES: Appendix I. Deforestation and loss of habitat are the main problems they face. They are killed by farmers due to the threat they pose to livestock, and they are also unpopular for their habit of stripping valuable timber trees of bark and reducing the value. Asiatic black bears are also hunted for their gall bladders, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The Sloth Bear is relatively small, with long hair and shaggy coat. The bear is often black, but sometimes reddish animals have been seen. The nostrils of the muzzle can be closed at will, possibly as a defense from termites which make up a large portion of their diet. They display a noticeable white U-shaped patch on their chest. The ears are large and floppy; they have very good hearing. The claws of the Sloth Bear are sickle-shaped and deeply curved. Size: 5-6 ft. and 120-310 lbs.
Sloth Bears are also called Baloo, Honey Bear, Jungle Joker and Lip Bear, and they live in the forested areas and grasslands of India and Sri Lanka.

Sloth bears mate during the hot season—May, June, and July—and females usually give birth to two cubs six to seven months later. Cubs are born in an underground den, and stay there for several months. After emerging from the den, cubs stay at their mother's side for two to three years before heading off on their own. 

It is unknown how long sloth bears live in the wild. But these bears have lived up to 40 years in zoos. 

The South American spectacled bear has excellent eyesight and gets its name from the markings around their eyes. These markings are unique to each individual and can be used for identification.

Spectacled bears are the only bear species found in South America. They inhabit the mountainous regions of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Mating takes place between May and August, and females give birth to 1-3 cubs from January to March.

Spectacled bears are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and are on CITES: Appendix I. Their main threat is loss of habitat, but they are also hunted for sport and by farmers. Farmers also spray special pesticides on to their corn fields to protect their crops from the bears.

Sun Bears get their name from the yellow-ish mark on their chests which is said to resemble the rising sun. However, these marks can vary and may be completely lacking. They are the smallest of the eight species of bear.

Little is known about the social habits of Sun Bears. They are primarily nocturnal, and spend much of the day sunbathing or resting. They are tree climbers and spend most of their time amongst the branches, often on makeshift nests they have built out of branches, these can be as high as seven metres off the ground.

Sun Bears will mate at any time of year, as they do not hibernate in winter like other bear species. Gestation lasts 90-110 days and either one or two tiny babies will be born. The babies remain with their mother for quite some time, learning how to find food and fend for themselves. They reach sexual maturity at between three and four years of age.

 Sun Bears have been known to live up to 25 years in captivity, but it is not known how long they live in the wild.