The Black Bear Den
Ursus americanus floridanusCreated by: Joey B.
Introduction
Most kids had or have Teddy Bears without a doubt, but there is a story behind why they are called Teddy Bears. What happened was that our twenty-sixth president, Teddy Roosevelt, saved a Black Bear Cub from dying. A toy maker was inspired by these actions, and thought "Hey, I should create a soft, huggable child plaything." So when the first of these bears were made, the toy maker decided to call it a Teddy Bear.Territory
Black Bears are the most well known bears of North America. Their relatives are the brown Bear, the polar bear and the Asian black bear. The are the smallest . Black Bears live in most of North America . Black Bears in North America have relatives in Asia . These bears are smaller and live in the mountains .
Colored CoatJust because they are called "Black" bears doesn't necessarily mean their all black, actually they can be many colors. Some black bears are all white or bluish, or even blue black. Mother bears could be brown and her litter could all be blue, but that doesn't mean they're sick, they're just another color.
The Florida Black Bear suffers from needless persecution by man. There is a general bad perception towards the black bear due to human fears and misconceptions. Even though it is a Threatened Species, the bear can still be hunted in certain areas of Florida under certain circumstances. In July of 1991, all 21 of Florida's representatives asked the federal government to give Florida Black Bears greater protection through an Endangered status. It was denied.
What Can You Do To Save Them?
You can help save the Florida Black Bear by giving it an Endangered status. Write the Executive Director of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFWFC). Send copies to State officials, and active environmental groups of your choice. Road kills can be stopped with the addition of protected crossing areas called Wildlife Crossings or Panther Crossings. Write to the FWS for information.
