Waiting for Mom, Black Bear Cub

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This small black bear cub was photographed one fall evening as its mother grazed nearby on snowberries. Bears are voracious eaters in the fall, as they try to put on fat for their winter hibernation. Next spring this cub's mother will likely force him to strike out on his own. The separation of mother and cub is sometimes violent, and cubs are sometimes severely injured by their mothers during the process. Black bears are omnivores, eating both vegetation and meat. The bulk of their diet consists of vegetation, and they are often seen grazing. Dandelions are a preferred food item in the spring. The scientific name for these bears is Ursus americanus.