There is no doubt about it Mainers love the Black Bear.  As I was walking through the University of Maine Campus on the Insane Inflatable 5k we were talking about how UMaine's mascot got named Bananas. I was told that back in the early days of the University they actually had a live bear that would come onto the fiend before each game and the crowd would go.....Bananas, you guessed it.

I think the other reasons Black Bears are so beloved in Maine is their willingness to be near or at least somewhat near humans

Courtesy KismaPreserve.otrg
Courtesy KismaPreserve.otrg
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To date Maine has about 22,000 Black Bears many of whom have already gone to bed for the season. This deep sleep is coveted by Black bears, Grizzly bears and Brown bears during the winter months, and it's proper name is a torpor. Some bears can run close to 25 mph, weigh up to 600 lbs and grow as tall as 6 feet.  One of the worlds largest Black Bears (so I'm told) resides in Trenton's Kisma Preserve. Making this a great place to visit and learn more about these fascinating animals. Want more? Here are some Maine Black Bear Videos from YouTube.

  • 1

    St. John Valley, Aroostook County

    Back Scratcher
  • 2

    Bangor, Maine

    Mama & Three Cubs
  • 3

    Stow, Maine

    Breaks Fence & Bird Feeder
  • 5

    Minot, Maine

    Bear Family
  • 6

    Bethel Bear

    Came across a Black bear (about 150 feet away), foraging in a marsh in back of a large terraced cemetery on Route 35, a little bit south of Bethel, Maine, Sunday, August 2, 2015, ca. 5:30 pm.

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    Bonus Maine Black Bear Project

    Follow Maine's black bear biologist, Randy Cross, as they study the black bear population. Go with them into the forests as they trap during the summer, and follow them in the cold of winter when they visit the dens to count how many cubs enter the population.

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