Black Bear

Scientific Name: Ursus americanus
Bear Feeding Ban: It is unlawful to intentionally lay or place food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt or other minerals that may cause bears to congregate or habituate an area. In addition, if nuisance bears are being attracted to an area by other wildlife feeding, game wardens can issue written notice to temporarily halt the activity.

Live Stream from Northeast Pennsylvania

This live stream from Monroe County is brought to you by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and HDOnTap. Black bears are wild creatures and it is important for us to keep them wild. Please refrain from naming the sow and her cubs to respect them as a wild animals. Also respect the privacy of the bears and the landowners, to whom we are extremely grateful for their enthusiastic cooperation in allowing us to share this peek into the lives of black bears. As we move through March, the cubs will become more visible and active; early in the month we may see the sow's back much of the time. Enjoy! And remember, nature can be difficult to watch.

Check for additional information on Pennsylvania black bears and periodic updates From Under the Deck.

Reference

Wildlife Note – Black bear biology and ecology
A February Bear Den Visit (2:20)
Summer Bear Trapping (1:20)
On the Trail of the Pennsylvania Black Bear; 1991 (1:41:48)
Springtime Ecology of Pennsylvania Black Bears - a webinar (46:29)
Living with Black Bears – Urban bears
Black Bear Expansion Based on Harvest Distribution (PDF)
Mange in Black Bears brochure (PDF)

Hunting

Bear Hunting Laws and Regulations
Wildlife Management Units
Pennsylvania Black Bear Harvest Certificate (PDF)
Black Bear Age Harvest Data
Bear, Deer & Turkey Harvests
Harvest Maps

 

Bear Check Station Data

Click on the map below to view data from the 2018 bear season. 

Research

Black Bear Research in Your Neighborhood (PDF)
Population Growth of Bears
Bountiful Black Bears
Bear Management Plan (PDF)
Pennsylvania Residents' Opinions On and Attitudes toward Black Bears (PDF)
Pennsylvania Residents' Opinions On and Attitudes toward black Bears - Executive Summary (PDF)