Know Before You Go

© 

Black Bear Facts | Canadian Rockies Wildlife Guide

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is common throughout the forests and mountains of the Pacific Northwest, Canada, Alaska, the Rocky Mountains, the upper Midwest, parts of the southern U.S., the Appalachian Mountains and in Mexico. Black bear fur ranges from gray to blue-gray, black, cinnamon and even white. They have small heads with straight-line profiles, rounded ears, non-retractable claws and an incredible sense of smell—perhaps the keenest nose in the animal kingdom.

Behaviorally, black bears are less aggressive than brown bears and rely on their ability to climb trees to escape predators such as wolves, grizzlies and male black bears. Though smaller than grizzlies, black bears still require mass quantities of vegetation to stimulate their winter torpor. Bears have an elongated digestive tract, which allows for more efficient digestion. To maximize the quality of food items ingested, they typically forage for plants in phenological stages of highest nutrient availability. Torpor is the most effective means of energy conservation available to mammals. This physiological suppression of metabolic rate—often accompanied by suppression of feeding behaviors and defecation—is an adaptation that enables black bears to survive the energetic demands of cold ambient temperature and limited resources.

After black bears have built up sufficient adipose (fatty) tissue and have grown thicker fur, they retreat into dens constructed out of fluffy, insulative material. Though these wintering habitats shield the bears from freezing temperatures and harsh winds, they fail to protect the animals from the consequences of climate change. Longer summer months delay typical foraging and denning behaviors. As a result, black bears are more active during the day—increasing their chances of coming into contact with humans and causing conflicts over food and territory.
See Black Bears on These National Park Adventures
Repeater Layout : vertical
Peaks, Lakes & Meadows of the Canadian Rockies 10-12
New Trip!

Peaks, Lakes & Meadows of the Canadian Rockies

See Banff, Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway, explore Yoho and Kootenay national parks, and heli-hike in rare solitude from a luxury fly-in wilderness lodge in the Bugaboos.
9 Days / Jul–Aug
$11695
10-12
Photo Departures Available
Make it Custom Make it Private
New Trip!
Glacier & Waterton: An International Treasure 10-12
New Active Walking Options!

Glacier & Waterton: An International Treasure

Sheer-walled peaks, icy lakes, alpine valleys carpeted in summer wildflowers, and magnificent wildlife! Discover all the wonders on both sides of the border with local guides who know this land intimately.
9 Days / Jun–Sep
$8695
10-12
Photo Departures Available
Make it Custom Make it Private
New Active Walking Options!
Know Before You Go

Send Me Travel Emails

Get the Inside Scoop on the

World of Nature Travel

Our weekly eNewsletters highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Send Me Travel Emails
Privacy Policy
Thank you for joining our email list

Look for a special welcome message in your inbox, arriving shortly! Be sure to add naturalhabitat@nathab.com to your email contacts so you don’t miss out on future emails.

Get Weekly Updates

Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more.

Privacy Policy
We're Proud of the Reputation We’ve Earned
Outside
Voted "World's Best Travel
Company"
by Outside Magazine
Outside
Natural Habitat Adventures Ranked
“Best Outfitter”
NatGeo
Voted Best Winter Trip: Natural Habitat Adventures' Monarch Butterfly Migration, Mexico
VIEW MORE AWARDS

Request Your 2023 Catalog

Discover the World's Best

Nature Travel Experiences

Nathab 2024 Catalog

Together, Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to arrange nearly a hundred nature travel experiences around the planet, while helping to protect the magnificent places we visit and their wild inhabitants.

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Request Your 2024/2025 Catalog
Continued - Page 2 of 2
To help us customize your catalog request, please tell us more about your travel needs:
Thank you for requesting a catalog
We’ve received your request. If you have any questions about our trips, please feel free to contact an Adventure Specialist today by calling 800-543-8917.

Get Weekly Updatess

Discover the World's Best

Nature Travel Experiences

Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Send Me Travel Emails
Privacy Policy
Thank you for joining our email list!

Look for a special welcome message in your inbox, arriving shortly! Be sure to add naturalhabitat@nathab.com to your email contacts so you don’t miss out on future emails.

Send Us a Message

Send Us a Message

Have a question or comment? Use the form to the right to get in touch with us.

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Send Us a Message
Thank you for your message

We’ll be in touch soon with a response.

Refer a Friend

Refer a Friend,
Get $250 Off
Earn rewards for referring your friends! We'd like to thank our loyal travelers for spreading the word. Share your friend's address so we can send a catalog, and if your friend takes a trip as a first-time Nat Hab traveler, you'll receive a $250 Nat Hab credit you can use toward a future trip or the purchase of Nat Hab gear. To refer a friend, just complete the form below or call us at 800-543-8917. It's that easy! See rules and fine print here.
Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Refer a Friend

Earn rewards for referring your friends! We'd like to thank our loyal travelers for spreading the word. Share your friend's address so we can send a catalog, and if your friend takes a trip as a first-time Nat Hab traveler, you'll receive a $250 Nat Hab credit you can use toward a future trip or the purchase of Nat Hab gear. To refer a friend, just complete the form below or call us at 800-543-8917. It's that easy! See rules and fine print here.

Thank you for the referral!

We've received your friend's information.

View Our 2023 Digital Catalog

View Our 2024/2025

Digital Catalog

Help us save paper! We offer a digital version of The World's Greatest Nature Journeys. If you'd prefer a mailed copy, please provide your contact details here. To view our digital catalog, please enter your info in the form to the right.
Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
View Digital Catalog
Happy browsing!

Thanks for requesting access to our digital catalog. Click here to view it now. You’ll also receive it by email momentarily.

Our Trips

Polar Bear Tours

Polar Bear Tours

African Safaris

African Safaris

Galapagos Tours

Galapagos Tours

Alaska Adventures

Alaska Adventures

U.S. National Parks Tours

U.S. National Parks Tours

Canada & the North

Canada & the North

Europe Adventures

Europe Adventures

Mexico & Central America Tours

Mexico & Central America Tours

South America Adventures

South America Adventures

Asia & Pacific Adventures

Asia & Pacific Adventures

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Adventure Cruises

Adventure Cruises

Photography Expeditions

Photography Expeditions

Women's Adventures

Women's Adventures

Family Adventures

Family Adventures

New Adventures

New Adventures

Questions? Call 800-543-8917

Contact Us

Have a question or comment?
Click any of the buttons below to get in touch with us.

Hours
Mountain Time

  • 8 am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday
  • 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday
  • Closed on Sunday
Call 800-543-8917
Questions? Click to Chat
Questions? Click to Chat
/know-before-you-go/alaska-northern-adventures/canadian-rockies/wildlife-guide/black-bear/