THE BLACK BEARS 



39 



in the United States during the last fifteen years 

 has been between 500 and 600 pounds. 



In all parts of the United States save the Yel- 

 lowstone Park and the Clearwater Mountains of 

 Idaho, the Grizzly is now a rare animal, and so 

 difficult to find that it is almost useless to seek 

 it this side of British Columbia. Like other 

 large mammals of this continent, the long-range, 

 high-power rifles leave them absolutely no chance 



but is quite unable to climb trees. Like all other 

 bears, he eats nearly everything he can chew, and 

 is very partial to berries, and fruit of all kinds. 



The Black Bears. 



The Black Bear' is the best known bear 

 in North America. It is found in nearly all the 

 mountains and great tracts of forest between 



Photo, by E. R. Sanborn, N. Y. Zoological Park. 



AMERICAN BLACK BEAR 



From northern Wisconsin. 



for their lives, and in a short time none will exist 

 in the United States outside of the Yellowstone 

 Park and the zoological gardens. In the wilds of 

 Alaska, they may survive for perhaps a quarter 

 of a century longer. Unfortunately, the Griz- 

 zly loves to roam over treeless mountains, on 

 which his huge bulk makes him conspicuous for 

 miles, and invites the attacks of his enemies. He 

 loves water, swims well, and is a great traveller, 



Florida and Alaska, and from Nova Scotia to 

 the Pacific coast. During the past twenty years 

 it has been seen or killed in forty states of the 

 United States, in Mexico, Alaska, and eleven 

 of the British provinces. Its farthest south is 

 the mountains of Costa Rica. 



Its standard color is jet black, all over, except 

 the nose, which is dirty white or light brown. A 

 1 Ur'sus a-mer-i-can'us. 



