Dr. Lynn Rogers

Dr. Lynne Rogers is a Wild life Biologist. He's been studying Black Bears for almost 20 years now. Because Black Bears hardly attack humans, he can follow them through their natural habitat.
In the beginning he has to earn their trust by spending time with each bear. At first the bears would be more afraid of Dr. Lynne Rogers than he is of them. But after a long time of trying to earn their trust he has accomplished his mission, even a sow with cubs will let him follow closely.
Then Dr. Lynne Rogers learns more about Black Bears by spending time with them in the woods. Sometimes he'll spend an entire day or night, with a bear family, recording every thing they eat or do on his handy computer.What he records may look like this:

10:14 a.m.: Sow eats seven bites of dandelion. Cubs are playing

10:17 a.m.: Sow takes 42 bites of grass along woods road. Cubs find berries- too green.

10:22 a.m.: Sow sits down and nurses cubs.

Using this technique, he discovered something no other scientist has ever discovered.
A bear that eats grasses and dandelions and blue berries? Is that all they eat? Well, no, is what he says, but it's what they mostly eat. The bear really isn't that good at catching other animals, even thought they have sharp claws, big teeth and powerful muscles. With a big round body, short legs and mild attitude, the Black Bear is not a very efficient predator.

Rrrrrrrr... Grizzly Bears!

Grizzly bears are a type of Brown Bear that usually attacks what surprises or threatens them. People need to be more careful out in the west, where most Grizzly Bears live. Same for the Black Bear for that they don't always get along.
Even though Black Bears are not likely to hurt us, we must respect them. But, they are NOT pets, so you shouldn't try to pet one or feed one. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear.

The Sharp Claws of a Black Bear

Black bears have sharp claws, but Brown bears and Polar Bears live in more open areas with less trees so they don't climb trees. Black Bears climb trees to find food and to escape from things that frighten them, like humans and bigger bears. Because Black bears have evolved to climbing trees to avoid danger, they rarely attack, things that frighten them. That means that they almost always run away from humans. Unless they're injured or cornered, they like to avoid people. They are more afraid of you than you are afraid of them.

A Black Bear's Habitat

Black Bears have always lived in forests, and that's where we'll find them today- everywhere in North America's forests. Deciduous forest with plenty of nuts and acorns are the best places for black bears.

A Black Bear's Senses

Black bears have a very good sense of smell, they can hear more than humans. Once many people believed that bears were stupid, idiotic creatures with poor eyesight. But, now we know that they're actually quite intelligent and curious animal. They can see color, not like dogs. In the Great Smoky Mountains they can see Park Rangers( People that work at parks)by their green trucks and uniforms.

Black Bears!!! ROAR!!!

It turns out bears and humans have a lot in common. Plus the humans like them a lot. Know why? Because the Native people some time ago saw black bears do a lot of things like us. They can stand straight on their hind legs. They eat many foods that we can eat. They make tracks that look like our foot prints. They also noticed that a bear's body is built about the same way as ours.
The people many years ago believed that bears could lead them to the meaning of life. They wondered about all these amazing things they could do. I mean how can bears lie down and act as if dead and come back to life ever Spring?
Black bears only live in North America. Their name comes from their thick shiny black fur, which can also be brown, tan or blond. Because of their large amount of black fur they get very hot in the summer, and I mean very hot.(Why? Because dark colors absorb more heat than light colors.)Sometimes they cool off by swimming or lie down in the shade.
Females may reach 300 pounds and males can reach up to 500 pounds. The biggest black bear that was ever weighed was 800 pounds. Even with all those pounds, bears can easily outrun humans.