Black Bear Canine Tooth
This canine tooth from a Black Bear measures approximately 3.5cm in length and appears to be fossilized.
Here in Idaho, we are lucky to share the forests with a few grizzlies and a lot of black bears. As many as 20,000 black bears inhabit Idaho, but if you go looking for truly black bears, you might be surprised! In Idaho, you are just as likely to see a black bear that is brown in color (or even cinnamon!) as you are to see a black bear that is black in color. Black bears that live in the western states are often various shades of brown similar to grizzly bears.
Idaho's black bears are creatures of the forest. Camouflaged by its dark fur, a black bear easily fades into the shadows. It can move quietly on its soft, broad foot pads. Being able to navigate the forest quietly and unseen helps a bear avoid other bears as it searches for food. If a young bear accidentally comes across a large adult male, who could consider the youngster a competitor; the younger animal needs to retreat before being seen. If necessary, it can run 30 miles (48 km) per hour or paddle across a lake!
Donor: Unknown
Adopted by: Judith Myers
This canine tooth from a Black Bear measures approximately 3.5cm in length and appears to be fossilized.
Here in Idaho, we are lucky to share the forests with a few grizzlies and a lot of black bears. As many as 20,000 black bears inhabit Idaho, but if you go looking for truly black bears, you might be surprised! In Idaho, you are just as likely to see a black bear that is brown in color (or even cinnamon!) as you are to see a black bear that is black in color. Black bears that live in the western states are often various shades of brown similar to grizzly bears.
Idaho's black bears are creatures of the forest. Camouflaged by its dark fur, a black bear easily fades into the shadows. It can move quietly on its soft, broad foot pads. Being able to navigate the forest quietly and unseen helps a bear avoid other bears as it searches for food. If a young bear accidentally comes across a large adult male, who could consider the youngster a competitor; the younger animal needs to retreat before being seen. If necessary, it can run 30 miles (48 km) per hour or paddle across a lake!
Donor: Unknown
Adopted by: Judith Myers