There are eighteen known subspecies of black bears and they can be found throughout the United States and Canada. The estimated number of black bears in North America varies, 750,000 being the most often suggested. In the state of Pennsylvania there are believed to be more than 7000 of the animals scattered across the state. Despite their name, black bears actually appear in a variety of colors. There are brown black bears, white black bears, and the blue glacier bear.

Expert estimates of the weights of the bears also seem to vary widely. A conservative measurement put the average weight of the animals at around 300 pounds. The degree of sexual dimorphism exhibited by the species makes accurate accounts difficult. The largest black bear recorded was a male shot in Wisconsin in 1885. The bear was 802 pounds, far heavier than usual. They have a wide and varied diet. They can and will eat nearly anything. Typical of bears, they are fond of honey, and are responsible for thousands of dollars worth of damage to apiaries each year.

The black bear has claws, which are shorter and more curved than those of the grizzly bear. This allows it to have a great agility in climbing trees. Often, a sow will encourage her cubs to tree themselves when there is danger. Black bears have a characteristic way of climbing and descending trees. They mostly use their front claws for climbing and keeping a hold.