• Black Bear (Ursus americanus) only bear species in Nova Scotia
• Average Size: 45 - 200 Kg (100 - 440 lbs.)
• Diet: Omnivore. Can smell food over 1 km away.
• Young: 1 to 3 cubs, born in January/February. Cubs remain with mother for a full year.
• Average Life Span: 12 Years
• Activity Pattern: Nocturnal; hibernate in winter
• Shuffling walk but are excellent swimmers and can sprint short distances at speeds up to 56 km/h.
• Prefer wooded areas and swamps but will readily approach settled areas for easy access to food sources such as garbage, agricultural crops and bee hives.
• Nova Scotia is a small province with few large wild areas. There's no empty space (habitat) to send a captured bear because other bears live there.
• As bears get older, they select a particular area in which to live which they are reluctant to leave.
• Most problem bears are young animals that are out on their own for the first time.