All Animals

Animal Guide

American Black Bear

129 destinations · 39 states

Native Range
North America

The American black bear is a great example of why watching an animal for a few minutes can reveal more than its size alone. Despite the name, black bears can have coats ranging from black and chocolate brown to cinnamon, depending on the individual and region. In an exhibit, watch the nose first. A bear may spend several minutes sniffing around logs, rocks, or the ground before investigating a particular scent. That powerful sense of smell helps it locate food, while strong claws make climbing and digging relatively easy. Black bears are also surprisingly agile tree climbers, especially when young. Their diet is varied, so a bear may switch between browsing vegetation, searching for insects, and investigating fruit or other food. Their ability to stand and walk briefly on the hind legs is another behavior visitors often notice, usually when the bear wants a better view or scent from the air. In the wild, black bears occupy forests and other habitats across much of North America. Watching one methodically explore an exhibit makes it clear how much of a bear's day is spent investigating the world through smell.

American Black Bear

Where to see American Black Bear

129 destinations across 39 states

129 destinations

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Gulf Shores, AL

Alameda Park Zoo

Alamogordo, NM

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Girdwood, AK

Alaska Zoo

Anchorage, AK

Alexandria Zoological Park

Alexandria, LA

Amarillo Zoo

Amarillo, TX

Animal Adventure Park & Preserve

Harpursville, NY

Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary

Reno, NV

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Tucson, AZ

Audubon Zoo

New Orleans, LA

Austin Zoo

Austin, TX

Bailiwick Animal Park & Riding Stables

Catskill, NY

Bear Country USA

Rapid City, SD

Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm

Waterford, WI

Bear Hollow Zoo

Athens, GA

Bearizona Wildlife Park

Williams, AZ

Big Bear Alpine Zoo

Big Bear Lake, CA

Binder Park Zoo

Battle Creek, MI

Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, AL

Black Pine Animal Sanctuary

Albion, IN

Bramble Park Zoo

Watertown, SD

Brevard Zoo

Melbourne, FL

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary

Jupiter, FL

Buttonwood Park Zoo

New Bedford, MA

Caldwell Zoo

Tyler, TX

California Living Museum

Bakersfield, CA

Cameron Park Zoo

Waco, TX

Cape May County Park & Zoo

Cape May Court House, NJ

Cat Tales Wildlife Center

Mead, WA

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Sanford, FL

Charles Towne Landing Animal Forest

Charleston, SC

Chehaw Park & Zoo

Albany, GA

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Cincinnati, OH

Claws 'N' Paws Wild Animal Park

Lake Ariel, PA

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland, OH

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

DeYoung Family Zoo

Wallace, MI

Dickerson Park Zoo

Springfield, MO

Emerald Coast Zoo

Crestview, FL

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

West Orange, NJ

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth, TX

Frank Buck Zoo

Gainesville, TX

Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park

Naubinway, MI

Gladys Porter Zoo

Brownsville, TX

Great Plains Zoo

Sioux Falls, SD

Gulf Breeze Zoo

Gulf Breeze, FL

Henson Robinson Zoo

Springfield, IL

Houston Zoo

Houston, TX

Irvine Park Zoo

Chippewa Falls, WI

Jacksonville Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Jacksonville, FL

Keystone Safari

Grove City, PA

Lake Superior Zoo

Duluth, MN

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park

Halifax, PA

Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago, IL

Living Desert Zoo

Carlsbad, NM

Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo

Monroe, LA

Memphis Zoo

Memphis, TN

Menominee Park Zoo

Oshkosh, WI

Merced's Applegate Park Zoo

Merced, CA

Mill Mountain Zoo

Roanoke, VA

Minnesota Zoo

Apple Valley, MN

Monterey Zoo

Salinas, CA

Montgomery Zoo

Montgomery, AL

Museum of Life & Science

Durham, NC

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Naples, FL

Navajo Nation Zoo

Window Rock, AZ

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

Green Bay, WI

North Carolina Zoo

Asheboro, NC

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Eatonville, WA

Oakland Zoo

Oakland, CA

Ochsner Park Zoo

Baraboo, WI

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

Olympic Game Farm

Sequim, WA

Orange County Zoo

Orange, CA

Oregon Zoo

Portland, OR

Oswald’s Bear Ranch

Newberry, MI

Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Camp Verde, AZ

Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

West Palm Beach, FL

Pine Grove Zoo

Little Falls, MN

Plumpton Park Zoo

Rising Sun, MD

Pocono Snake & Animal Farm

East Stroudsburg, PA

Popcorn Park Animal Refuge

Forked River, NJ

Red Wolf Sanctuary & Raptor Rehabilitation Center

Rising Sun, IN

Safari North Wildlife Park

Brainerd, MN

Salato Wildlife Education Center

Frankfort, KY

San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio, TX

San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco, CA

Sedgwick County Zoo

Wichita, KS

Sequoia Park Zoo

Eureka, CA

Shalom Wildlife Zoo

West Bend, WI

Sharkarosa Zoo

Pilot Point, TX

Six Flags Great Adventure

Jackson Township, NJ

Spring River Zoo

Roswell, NM

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

Holderness, NH

Stone Zoo

Stoneham, MA

T&D's Cats of the World

Penns Creek, PA

Tallahassee Museum

Tallahassee, FL

TGR Exotics Wildlife Park

Spring, TX

The Texas Zoo

Victoria, TX

The Wild Animal Park

Chittenango, NY

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

Keenesburg, CO

Tigers For Tomorrow

Attalla, AL

Topeka Zoo

Topeka, KS

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Eureka Springs, AR

Utility Park & Zoo

Clay Center, KS

West Virginia State Wildlife Center

French Creek, WV

Western North Carolina Nature Center

Asheville, NC

Wild Adventures

Valdosta, GA

Wild Animal Safari

Pine Mountain, GA

Wild Animal Safari

Strafford, MO

Wilderness Trails Zoo

Birch Run, MI

Wilderness Walk Zoo

Hayward, WI

Wildlife Prairie Park

Hanna City, IL

Wildlife Safari

Winston, OR

Wildlife Safari Park

Ashland, NE

Wildlife Science Center

Stacy, MN

Wildlife West Nature Park

Edgewood, NM

Wildlife World Zoo

Litchfield Park, AZ

Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

Springfield, MO

Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary

Lilburn, GA

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary

Red Lodge, MT

Zollman Zoo

Byron, MN

Zoo Idaho

Pocatello, ID

Zoo Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

Zoo Miami

Miami, FL

Zoo New York

Watertown, NY

Zoo World Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach, FL

ZooAmerica

Hershey, PA

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Tampa, FL

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