West Virginia State Animal: Black Bear

State Animals 4 Minutes

The American black bear, more commonly known simply as the black bear, is the smallest of the 3 bear species found in America. The brown or grizzly bear and the polar bear are larger in size; however, the black bear is still a huge mammal.

They can measure up to 2 meters in length and males can weigh over 400kg. When standing on their hind legs, they can reach a height of around 7 feet, although females are usually smaller and shorter than males.

Black bears can be distinguished from brown bears by their smaller size, longer ears and lack of a shoulder hump. Black bears also have shorter, more curved claws and are generally more timid animals. Typically they are black in color but depending on their location, their fur can be dark or light brown.

Black bears are found throughout North America but are more abundant in the northern states. Unlike brown bears, they prefer more densely forested habitats and rarely venture into open areas for long periods of time.

Interesting American Black Bear Facts

1. They are not always black in color

Some black bears can be a very light brown (or cinnamon) color and very rarely, completely white.

2. Black bears are shy and timid

Black bears will usually run away or climb up a tree rather than confront humans. This is mostly true but some individual black bears can be very aggressive, especially when threatened. They are however much less likely to attack compared to the brown or grizzly bears, which tend to be less weary and less approachable. Both these species, as well as the polar bear, will usually move on when left alone and black bears especially tend to flee when confronted by people.

3. They can eat over 10,000 berries in a day

When food is abundant, black bears will eat as much food as they possibly can, sometimes over 8kg of fruit and berries in a day. When berries and fruits are abundant, black bears will move to these areas and feed almost exclusively on these.  They have an excellent sense of smell and this helps them locate ripping berries, nuts and fruits as well as bee hives, where they feed on the honey and bee larvae. 

4. Black bears are skilled climbers

Black bears are excellent climbers and can easily access nuts and fruits before they fall to the ground. They have sharp, curved claws and this not only helps them when climbing but also makes ripping into trees logs or upturning boulders when searching for insects much easier. As well as being expert climbers, black bears are great swimmers and will cross fast flowing rivers to reach food on the other side.

5. They are incredibly strong animals

Black bears are up to 5 times stronger than the average human being.

6. American black bears are highly dexterous

They are capable of opening screw-top jars and manipulating door latches.

7. Their diet is predominantly vegetarian

Although they do eat meat, almost 70% of their diet is made up of plant matter.

8. Their sense of smell is 7 times more sensitive than a domestic dog

While American black bears have extremely sensitive noses, their eyesight and hearing is more comparable to that of a human.

9. Black bears are fast runners

Sprinting at around 40-50km/h, black bears can easily outrun humans.

10 They are mostly quiet animals

Although they tongue-click and grunt to communicate with one another, black bears do not growl or roar. 

11. They den in spots that are well hidden

Black bear dens are usually made in caves, under tree roots or are dug into hillsides.

12. Females usually give birth during the hibernation period

During the breeding season, a male and female will remain together until just before the cubs are born. Females usually give birth in their den while in torpor; a similar state to hibernation. The cubs will then feed off their mother’s milk while she hibernates until spring arrives. Usually two cubs are born and they leave the den for the first time when their mother comes out of hibernation. Female black bears teach their cubs how to find food and survive in the wild until the cubs are around 17 months old and become fully independent. The father of the cubs does not actively help in raising his offspring but does protect the territory from other males, who may attack the cubs.

13. Black bear cubs are playful animals

Cubs will regularly wrestle and play with each other as well as their mother. This helps them develop essential skills to survive in the wild.

14. Black bears are very intelligent

Black bears can memorize their whole territory, they can make scratching sticks out of twigs and can easily break into locked food storage containers.

15. There are black bear hybrids

American black bears can reproduce with other bear species and produce hybrid offspring. Black bear and grizzly bear hybrids have been reported in the wild.

16. They are a key contributor to the ecosystem

Black bears are important contributors to the ecosystems in which they inhabit. Due to their large size, they create micro-ecosystems where they leave deep footprints or break small trees and plants. They are also key in controlling insect populations as well as important seed disbursers, encouraging new plant growth wherever the seeds in their stools germinate. Black bears also have very large home ranges which means they can increase plant diversity by traveling long distances and disbursing seeds which otherwise may not have reached or germinated in that area.  

SOURCE: FACTANIMAL.COM

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Published by pat frederick

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76 thoughts on “West Virginia State Animal: Black Bear”

    1. Morning, Pat! Still not getting better? Were you able to sleep at least? Temp is 30 here w/a predicted high of 32 & light snow – only about an inch. The E/NE part of the state into IA will get a good bit more. 10-day forecast is still showing up to 51 on Tuesday!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!

        I was feeling much better into late yesterday afternoon, but then my sinuses exploded. i took a benadryl when i got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and slept well. after i got up, it all came rushing back…sigh.

        hubby is being an angel…doing everything.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. When I used to get sinus infections, the more I blew my nose (CONSTANTLY!), the quicker I got over it. Ya’ gotta get that junk outta there!

          Liked by 1 person

            1. I always rub a little Mentholatum in my nose, too. It really helps to clear my sinuses. I’ll often use it even when I don’t have a cold, especially at night.

              Liked by 1 person

              2. Have you ever tried Mentholatum instead of Vicks? It’s a little more gentle on your nose, not as overwhelming. And I always take mine with me, too, no matter where I travel.

                Liked by 1 person

  6. Just The News: “The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the case over President Donald Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to interpret the 14th Amendment as excluding birthright citizenship to the children of illegal aliens and tourists, CBS News reported. Trump imposed the order as a means of combating the practice of birth tourism and the creation of “anchor babies,” intended to present an obstacle to deportations.

    Thus far, the Department of Justice has struggled to defend the order in the lower courts and it remains unclear whether the conservative friendly justices will be more receptive to their arguments. A decision will likely come in early 2026.

    Reacting to the announcement, South Carolina GOP Attorney General Alan Wilson urged the court to end birthright citizenship.

    “The Fourteenth Amendment never intended to grant automatic citizenship to tourists or illegal aliens who enter our country for the sole purpose of having an ‘anchor baby,’” he said. “In October, I joined a coalition of 24 states asking the U.S. Supreme Court to answer this question and allow our nation to enforce its laws and protect its citizens. I look forward to a swift and correct decision from the Supreme Court that allows President Trump’s executive order stopping birthright citizenship to go into effect.”

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Charlotte99
    December 6, 2025 7:34 am
    Reply to Charlotte99

    This audit of the Governor Tim Walz’s Office, meant to confirm they’re following the most basic financial and administrative rules is damning

    Here’s what it lays out:

    • Routine financial procedures weren’t followed.
    • Payments were late, payroll records didn’t match, and required paperwork wasn’t filed.
    • Receipts and documentation that should’ve been simple to produce were missing in case after case.
    • Internal controls were so weak the auditors had to issue twelve separate findings just to capture everything.
    • A significant amount of taxpayer money was unaccounted for funds that should have been instantly traceable.
    • Some employees were actually overpaid, and the office lacked the oversight systems to catch it.
    • Auditors also flagged spending tied directly to the Governor’s own activities expenses charged to public funds with little to no justification or documentation.

    Why hasn’t Tim Walz been arrested?

    https://nitter.poast.org/jammles9/status/1995137123930

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Oh, no you don’t, POTUS! On this I have to disagree 100%!!!!

    Just The News: “President Donald Trump suggested Friday that the United States should rename American football so that soccer can be renamed “football,” which is the name that other countries use for the sport. 

    The comment occurred during the president’s remarks at the ceremonial final draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Kennedy Center. The United States, Canada and Mexico will co-host the 2026 World Cup in June.

    The president’s suggestion would mean that the National Football League (NFL) needs a new name, despite having the same name for over 100 years. It was previously the American Professional Football Association until 1922.

    “When you look at what has happened to football in the United States, which is soccer in the United States, we seem to never call it (football) because we have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that’s called football,” Trump said. “But when you think about it, shouldn’t it really be called … this is football, there’s no question about it. We have to come up with another name for the NFL. It really doesn’t make sense when you think about it.”

    Global fans usually differentiate between the sports by referring to the popular American sport as “American football,” despite only one player kicking the ball in the NFL, versus every player kicking balls in soccer. 

    The name soccer originated in England in the 19th century to differentiate rugby football from association football, according to USA Today.” 

    Liked by 1 person

  10. “Today In Republicans Being Useless: House GOPers Surrender On Obamacare Fight — By every measure, the GOP is more useless than that raccoon that broke into an ABC store, got drunk, and passed out on the bathroom floor.”

    The Federalist, By: Shawn Fleetwood, December 05, 2025

    Rep. Jeff Van Drew talking at a press conference.

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “After successfully holding strong in the face of a Democrat-led government shutdown over Obamacare, a cabal of House Republicans is now waiving the white flag on the issue.

    On Thursday, nearly three dozen Democrats and Republicans introduced a proposal to extend taxpayer-funded Obamacare subsidies. As Federalist Senior Contributor Christopher Jacobs has regularly reported in these pages, these Biden-era subsidies — which are set to expire at the end of this year — have been a complete and total disaster.

    Spearheaded by Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Jen Kiggins, R-Va., the measure “would extend and reduce the tax credits in a two-step process, requiring two separate votes by Congress,” according to The New York Times. While the first vote “would extend the tax credits for a year with some modifications, including the addition of a new income limit,” the second vote “would implement what the group described as ‘more significant reforms,’ including potentially eliminating $0 premiums, with exceptions for need-based support.”

    During a press conference introducing the proposal, Democrat-turned-Republican Jeff Van Drew laid out his best case for forcing taxpayers to keep bankrolling this broken system. The New Jersey congressman’s explanation as a self-declared “conservative” was (naturally) unconvincing.

    “I do not like the Affordable Care Act. … And it’s fraught with all kinds of problems, there’s a lot of corruption … But that’s not the point today, and that’s not the discussion for today,” Van Drew said. These subsidies haven’t “been good. But ladies and gentlemen, we have a responsibility. … So, I believe that we have two responsibilities. One, to have a bridge for the American people … that would allow them to keep their health insurance. I think the second responsibility we have is to do much, much better with health care.”

    If you’re left wondering what should happen at the end of the next proposed subsidy extension, you’re not alone. As my colleague Eddie Scarry observed in response to Van Drew’s comments, “So you’re creating a ‘bridge’ by extending the subsidies but you have no plan for what happens when that extension again runs out? Literally a bridge to nowhere. Laughable.”

    Perhaps the richest part of Van Drew’s remarks, however, is the part in which he whined about wishing lawmakers could’ve been working on health care rather than having “43 days off” because of the government shutdown.

    Forty-three days? What about the 15 years Republicans have spent campaigning on “repealing and replacing” Obamacare? It’s 2025, and the GOP still doesn’t have a plan to revoke the disastrous law and institute a market-oriented solution that fosters competition and naturally drives down costs.

    Fortunately, the Gottheimer-Kiggins proposal seems unlikely to make any significant headway, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., shooting down the idea on Thursday. (House Republican leadership is reportedly expected to introduce its own health care package sometime next week, although it’s currently unknown if that proposal will include any extension of the Obamacare subsidies.)

    But whether or not the “bipartisan” proposal passes is beside the point. That a group of Republicans would take it upon themselves to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and hand Democrats exactly what they’ve been wanting is a disgrace.

    Then again, it’s not shocking when considering that the Republican Party has no ability or interest in governing and no collective vision for what success for the country looks like. By every measure, it’s more useless than that raccoon that broke into an ABC store, got drunk, and passed out on the bathroom floor.

    But according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, everything is just hunky dory. The Louisiana Republican recently claimed that the current GOP-run Congress is “the most productive and consequential Congress in our lifetime.”

    If by “most productive and consequential,” he means squandering a rare opportunity to enact real and significant change for the American people, then he’s absolutely right.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. the dems KNEW this in advance–that the program was shit and would have to be propped up forever–they rammed it thru anyway. and now the forever sentiment is going to be…we HAVE to…for regular folks to have healthcare.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. I like Charlie Hurt’s suggestion on Trump’s idea of changing the name of football here in the US: “Change soccer to communist kickball!”

    Liked by 1 person

  18. “Purges, Collapse Inside CIA, and the Path to National Recovery: Part II”

    Michael T. Flynn LTG USA (RET), Dec 06, 2025

    EXCERPT: “The aftermath of January 6th must be understood in tandem with the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the federal vaccine mandates. Together, they formed the operational center of a three-tiered purge aimed at the heart of the American national security workforce.

    Revolutions require crisis. They cannot sustain themselves solely on theory. A strategic choice must be made about where that crisis will be centered. If the battlefield is domestic, foreign crises must be controlled or terminated quickly. From this perspective, the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan takes on an additional dimension. Clearing the deck internationally created space for the domestic crisis narrative around January 6 to dominate. It is plausible that the decision to accept a disastrous withdrawal was seen as an acceptable cost if it allowed the administration and its ideological allies to focus fully on remaking the internal machinery of the state.

    Barely a week after Afghanistan fell, vaccine mandates were announced for the entire federal workforce. From the first moment, it was clear to many inside the system that this was not primarily about public health. It was about obedience, identification, and removal. Those who refused to comply were disproportionately religious, constitutionally minded, conservative in outlook, or simply unwilling to submit to coerced medical intervention. In other words, they were the precise cohort that revolutionary ideologues view as an obstacle.

    What followed across the federal government was a coordinated pattern. Agencies created religious accommodation processes that were adversarial by design. Internal systems were engineered to route almost every request toward denial. In some cases, the process itself kept changing to trap employees into non-compliance that could be framed as insubordination. Compliance numbers were falsified. Lists of non-compliant personnel were compiled. Unvaccinated officers were labeled as insider threats, a term previously used for spies, saboteurs, or those posing physical security risks. In some cases, armed officers were informed that their firearms could be taken or their positions altered based on their refusal.

    Crude calculations made inside multiple agencies suggested that the administration was prepared to terminate a staggering proportion of the national security workforce. While public reporting put the number of separated service members in the thousands, internal estimates and anecdotal evidence suggest the actual impact may have been orders of magnitude greater, including forced retirements, coerced resignations, career-destroying notations, and informal blacklists. The intent appears to have been nothing less than the ideological purification of the federal apparatus under the cover of a health emergency…..”

    “…..Finally, there must be a national effort to educate the public about the patterns, methods, and vocabulary of Marxist and neo-Marxist movements. This does not require witch hunts. It requires clarity. Once citizens understand how these systems operate, they are far harder to manipulate; the mask slips. The slogans no longer suffice, and the glamour of the revolution fades.

    There remains, inside this country and inside its battered institutions, a remnant of men and women who never surrendered. They stayed at their posts. They told the truth, quietly or openly, when it was dangerous to do so. They refused to consent to lies. They suffered for it. Careers were derailed. Retirements were accelerated. Friendships were broken. Some were imprisoned. Many were slandered, but they are still here.

    Like the Founders before them, they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, not in the abstract but in the daily grind of saying no to a machine that demanded their submission. The cost has been high. Yet the Republic still stands. That is not an accident. It is the fruit of Providence and the courage of ordinary people acting in extraordinary times.

    For the God of our fathers. For the country we inherited. For the Republic that must not fall. The struggle is not over. But neither is the story of America.”

    https://genflynn.substack.com/p/purges-collapse-inside-cia-and-the

    Liked by 1 person

  19. gees louise!!!

    I took alka seltzer plus and sat down in my chair and promptly fell asleep. hubby must have gone out and brought in several loads of wood and is stacking it in the basement–the tractor didn’t even wake me!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. talked to Mom…my brother wants to put a tv in her room and she doesn’t want one. wanna bet he gets her one anyway? LOL

    she sounded good. she’s made new friends at bingo–a couple she now sits with and talks to.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Castello di Sammezzano – Tuscany, Italy

    The original palazzo was erected in about 1605 by the Spanish nobleman Ximenes of Aragon. In the 19th century, Ferdinand Panciatichi Ximenes inherited the property and, between 1853 and 1889, remodeled it into one of the largest examples of Moorish Revival architecture. Umberto I, king of Italy, visited Ximenes at Sammezzano in 1878.

    One Ugly Airplane.

    “The Fairey Gannet is a carrier-borne aircraft that was designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer the Fairey Aviation Company. It was developed for the Royal Navy, being the first fixed-wing aircraft to combine both the search and strike portions of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.”

    Liked by 1 person

  33. “Boomers (like us) learned things the slow way, the painful way, and sometimes the expensive way, which is exactly why they live by these lessons even if they don’t talk about them out loud. And honestly, a lot of their outlook still applies today, maybe even more than ever. So here are seven life lessons boomers learned the hard way, and why they still stick to them long after the rest of us have moved on to the next trend.

    1) Hard work beats almost everything else

    2) Money is freedom, not status

    3) Relationships survive on effort, not compatibility

    4) Not everything needs to happen right now

    5) Health is a long-term investment, not a temporary project

    6) You can disagree without burning the bridge

    7) And finally, adaptability matters more than having the perfect plan

    Boomers don’t cling to old versions of themselves because we’ve reinvented themselves more times than we realize. And that ability to adapt is something we’re all going to need in a world that’s changing faster than ever. The bottom line?? We didn’t learn these lessons because someone explained them clearly or because they read all the right books. 

    We learned them by living through enough challenges to finally understand what actually matters. Hard work, patience, money awareness, relationship effort, health, adaptability, and emotional steadiness aren’t trendy ideas. They’re foundational skills that make life smoother, more meaningful, and a lot less chaotic.”

    Liked by 1 person

  34. “The toys we played with…I’m sure somebody knows somebody who’s cousin lost an eye to some toy or other… 

    Almost guaranteed to take out an eye…..

    I think this thing actually came with a little tiny bit of radioactive material.

    What could possibly go wrong with that?”

    Liked by 1 person

    2. we had the lawn darts–we never wounded anyone…lol

      and when we decided to move up here. my Dad made hubby and i rubber band guns…so we could pay cowboys and Indians in the woods. I still have the guns…the rubber bands have rotted…lool

      Liked by 1 person

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