# What Do American Black Bears Eat?

> What american black bears eat: Omnivore — nuts, berries, insects, carrion, and occasional small mammals, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Forests, mountains, and wetlands across North America.

- **Species:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Omnivore — nuts, berries, insects, carrion, and occasional small mammals
- **Habitat:** Forests, mountains, and wetlands across North America
- **Lifespan:** 15–25 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 48 km/h (30 mph) in short bursts
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-bear/what-do-black-bear-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-bear/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The American black bear is the most common bear in North America, found from Canada to Mexico in forests, swamps, and even suburbs. Despite the name, colours range from jet black to cinnamon, blonde, and the rare white Kermode or 'spirit bear' of British Columbia. Adults typically weigh 45–250 kg and are skilled tree climbers.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Adaptability and range

Black bears thrive in a wider variety of habitats than grizzlies, including eastern hardwood forests, western conifer woods, Florida swamps, and desert margins where food and cover exist. Their ability to climb trees and tolerate human-altered landscapes helps explain their continued abundance across the continent.

## Help protect the American Black Bear

Black bears face habitat loss and food-conditioning near towns, which puts both bears and people at risk.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-bear/what-do-black-bear-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.