Feb., 191 2. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 401 



flesh eaters and his varied diet includes mammals ranging from Mice 

 to Sheep and young cattle, as well as birds, fish, frogs, insects, berries 

 of various kinds and, in fact, almost anything edible. He is extremely 

 partial to honey, and unlike the Grizzly Bear, he is a good tree climber, 

 and is generally able to rob a bee tree whenever he finds one. He 

 tears open old rotten stumps and turns over logs and rocks in search 

 of grubs and ants of which he seems to be particularly fond. . In the 

 berry season, when berries form a not inconsiderable part of his 

 diet, he may be looked for in localities where they are plentiful, and 

 although a nocturnal animal, may be seen occasionally in the day- 

 time on open hillsides indulging his taste for them. 



Notwithstanding the popular opinion to the contrary, the Black 

 Bear is a shy animal and unless badly wounded will rarely attack man. 

 I have killed seventeen Black Bears in different parts of the United 

 States and have never had one charge or show fight, except when 

 badly wounded and unable to run away. At such times they are 

 undoubtedly more or less dangerous, as almost any wild animal would 

 be when cornered and desperate. I have never shot a female with 

 cubs; but there is little doubt that she will fight to protect them, espe- 

 cially if they are very young. 



The Black Bear hibernates in winter;* in fact, it does so to a more 

 or less degree throughout its range without regard to temperature, 

 although the scarcity of food during the cold months was probably 

 the primary cause of the development of the habit in these animals. 

 The length of its sleep varies in different parts of the country, being 

 undoubtedly influenced by temperature to that extent. In the more 

 southern portion of its range its sleep is not profound and in the case 

 of the Florida Bear, as I know from personal experience, they are 

 easily disturbed. 



The den is usually an excavation under some log or hollow in a 

 large tree and, when available, a natural cave is often used. The 

 young are bom late in January, or early in February, in this latitude, 

 and number from i to 4, the usual number being two. They are very 

 small at birth in comparison with the size of the mother, measuring 

 from 8 to 10 inches in length and rarely exceeding a pound in weight, 

 the average weight being considerably less. 



The flesh of the young Bear is tender and palatable, but that of an 

 old one is coarse and usually very tough. The oil from the fat is, in 

 my opinion, much better than lard for frying purposes, as the flavor is 

 delicate, and in culinary phraseology "it does not burn." 



* This peculiar physiological condition has already been discussed in connection 

 with other mammals. See pages 142 and 250; also Index. 



