Planning a Texas hiking or hunting trip? It’s wise to learn about Texas bear behavior.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, Black Bear are in Texas.
Listed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, as a threatened native species, Texas Black Bear (Ursus americanus) are generally mild tempered and considered omnivores, which means they eat anything, and will seize any opportunity to find something to eat. This may include humans and their food.
Black Bear are native in Texas woods and forests, and capable of running fast and climbing trees. Their fur is long and they can grow to length of six feet, weigh up to 300 pounds. Texas Black Bear are about two feet wide? at their shoulders.
Black Bear have claws and are mammals. Black Bear give birth to live young, and can be black or cinnamon – colored brown.
It’s best to avoid bears, especially when a mother has her young. When out, one can generally smell them first, then hear them; lastly, you may see them. Their smell is sour and they crash in the undergrowth, seeking mostly vegetarian type food.
However, Texas Black Bear can hurt or kill. It’s wise to exhibit caution and read extensively on Texas Parks and Wildlife how best to avoid these rare, native species. Keep all food out of vehicles with the vehicle’s windows up.
If a Texas Black Bear is offered food, it will become accustomed to humans and cease its wild ways. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department rangers monitor this species and will either trap, move, or kill a Texas Black Bear if he or she gets too used to humans.
Although Texas Black Bears are not generally dangerous, naturalists would be wise to consider every bear potentially harmful and just leave it alone.