Black bear America

The black bear Ursus americanus is the smallest, yet most common, of the three bear species found in America (after the polar bear and grizzly bear). They’re still pretty big though! Black bear weight varies enormously depending on age, sex and time of year – black bears can be 30% heavier in autumn than they are in spring.

As a result, adult black bears can weigh anywhere from 45-250kg. According to one study in California, adult female black bears weighed an average of 58kg, while males weighed 86kg on average. Black bears living in Alaska that can feed extensively on salmon weigh around 30kg more.