Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Mammals

Bears

Central Oregon is home to one species of bear, the black bear. This large, shy mammal most frequently is encountered in mountainous areas such as the Cascade mountains, Newberry National Monument, or Ochoco mountains with a dense forest canopy closure, and thick shrubby understory, which provide adequate hiding cover for this shy species. However, the black bear may also be encountered on the high desert Juniper-big sagebrush plant community, campgrounds, and wild areas where people tend to congregate.

The following bears are found in Central Oregon:

Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

RANGE: The black bear did not originate on this continent, however; it came over from Asia across the Bering land bridge about 500,000 years ago. Black bears inhabit suitable habitat throughout Alaska and Canada, although range is patchy in the lower 48 states.

STATUS: Not a protected species

HABITAT: Black bear most commonly occur in forests with a dense, shrubby under story, with nearby riparian areas or water sources.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Undisturbed shelter for dens during periods of winter dormancy, den sites include areas such as, under the root masses of windthrown trees, caves, even dense thickets or mine shafts.

BREEDING: Black bears breed about three years of age, breeding occurs in the months of June and July, with two to three cubs born in January or February. Cubs leave the den at about two months of age and remain with the mother one year, during this time the mother bear is very protective of the cubs, and cubs should never be approached as the sow can become quite aggressive.

FOOD: Omnivorous; bears will feed upon almost anything, like cows bears will consume large quantities of grasses and sedges, other vegetable matter consumed includes, forbs, nuts, berries, honey, fruits, tubers, bark and cambium, bees, insects and insect larvae, small mammals, fish, eggs, honey, carrion, and garbage.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Occur throughout central Oregon, most commonly associated with; remote forested areas with nearby water sources, and even common around camp grounds, where bears have learned to gain access to an easy snack by rummaging through ice chests or garbage cans.

REFERENCES: Burt 1952 Cstui et al Verts et al