AppearanceThe Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus), is a subspecies of the American black bear. The Florida Black Bear is 1 of 3 subspecies of bears recognized in the southeastern United States
The Florida black bear can be distinguished from other subspecies by genetic and skeletal differences.
Black bears originated in North America, and have been here at least 1.5 million years. View the taxonomic tree of Florida black bears.
What Do Black Bears Have in Common With All Bears?
Like all members of the bear family, black bears are large, powerful mammals with rounded ears, short tails, 5-toed feet, and large canine teeth.
Black bears may look slow because they walk flat on their feet (called plantigrade) like people, and travel with a shuffling gait, but they can run up to 30 miles an hour.
With their stout, heavily-curved claws, black bears climb trees very well; these claws are non-retractable and can be easily seen in their tracks.  
Although black bears in western states may have several color phases, all black bears in the Southeast, including Florida black bears, are black.
The muzzle may be tan or nearly black, and blonde or white chest blazes of all shapes and sizes are common. 
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