American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is in the Bears family (Ursidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 48,988 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Black Bear: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Black Bear
The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a medium-sized bear native to North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Black Bear by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,000 | July | Apr–Nov |
| Tennessee | 3,741 | May | Apr–Oct |
| North Carolina | 3,639 | June | Apr–Nov |
| Wyoming | 3,381 | June | May–Aug |
| Washington | 2,228 | August | May–Oct |
| New York | 2,181 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Colorado | 2,155 | July | May–Oct |
| Alaska | 1,800 | July | May–Sep |
| Oregon | 1,739 | June | May–Nov |
| Vermont | 1,718 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Arkansas | 1,629 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Montana | 1,550 | July | May–Sep |
| Virginia | 1,480 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 1,350 | June | May–Oct |
| Minnesota | 1,068 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Arizona | 1,003 | June | May–Nov |
| New Hampshire | 986 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Florida | 897 | June | May–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 896 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Connecticut | 815 | June | Apr–Oct |
| New Mexico | 763 | July | May–Oct |
| New Jersey | 693 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 550 | June | May–Sep |
| West Virginia | 492 | July | Apr–Nov |
| Texas | 467 | May | Apr–Nov |
| Michigan | 464 | June | May–Oct |
| Georgia | 414 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Maine | 328 | June | May–Oct |
| Maryland | 316 | July | May–Sep |
| Utah | 224 | July | May–Sep |
| Nevada | 220 | October | Apr–Nov |
| Idaho | 194 | May | May–Oct |
| South Carolina | 163 | June | May–Nov |
| Kentucky | 115 | June | May–Sep |
| Ohio | 80 | August | May–Sep |
| Louisiana | 63 | May | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 51 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 40 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Missouri | 36 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 22 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Mississippi | 15 | May | Apr–Jun |
| South Dakota | 11 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Bears)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Black Bear?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is American Black Bear most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Tennessee, North Carolina.