Scientific Classification
- Common Name
- cinnamon bear
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Ursidae
- Genus Species
- Ursus (bear) americanus cinnamomum
Fast Facts
- Description
- The cinnamon bear is a subspecies of the black bear, the smallest type of North American bear. As its name implies, the cinnamon bear has rusty brown fur.
- Size
- Height at the shoulder to 0.9 m (3 ft.). Cubs weigh approximately 0.23 kg (0.5 lbs.) at birth.
Male: Males grow much larger than females
- Weight
- 92.1 to 270 kg (203 to 595 lbs.)
- Diet
- Omnivorous; eats both animal and plant matter; diet includes fruit, vegetation, nuts, honey, and occasionally insects and meat
- Incubation
- Total gestation lasts approximately 220 days including a period of delayed implantation. Development of the embryo only occurs during the final 10 weeks of pregnancy. Usually 2 to 3 cubs are born per litter.
- Estral Period
- Mating peaks from June through mid July
- Nursing Duration
- Approximately 17 months (wean)
- Sexual Maturity
- Male: Approximately 5 to 6 years
Female: Approximately 4 to 5 years
- Life Span
- Maximum of 30 years
- Range
- This subspecies is found in Wyoming, western Montana, Idaho, eastern Colorado, and parts of Canada (Waterton, Banff, and Jasper National parks)
- Habitat
- No data
- Population
- Global: Unknown
- Status
- IUCN: Not listed
CITES: Appendix II
USFWS: Species is listed as SAT (similarity of appearance to a threatened taxon); U. a. luteolus is listed as Threatened
Fun Facts
- Bears can be found throughout most of the lowland and mountainous ranges in North America.
- Black bears, including cinnamon bears, are excellent climbers, good runners, and powerful swimmers.
- Cubs are born in winter and nestle in their mother's fur for warmth and to nurse.
Ecology and Conservation
Populations of black bears have been eliminated from certain parts of their original range due to hunting. In many cases, bears are also seen as a threat to livestock and perceived as a nuisance to humans.
Bibliography
Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. I. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.
Parker, S. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Vol. IV. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 1990.
Wilson, D.E. and Ruff, S. eds. Washington. Smithsonian Institution Press. Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Online; https://www.bearstudy.org/website/publications/published-papers.html. 1999.
