Picture taken from: Bears, Majestic Creatures of the Wild, by David Kirshner and Frank Wright

Black bears have a good sense of smell. They can smell much better than they can hear or see! Bears live in many large forests in the Northwest. Their home is a den which may be a cave, a pile of brush, or a hole dug under the roots of a tree. They hibernate all winter. They go into a deep sleep and don't need to eat for 3 to 5 months. Bears like to eat salmon and berries in the wild. If they come near stores of food, they will eat grain, honey, or even sort through garbage for food! Black bears can weigh up to 600 pounds. They can run as fast as 25 miles per hour and are good tree climbers. Bears are usually peaceful animals, but they can get angry quickly. Mother bears will defend their cubs if they think the cubs are in danger.