Houston Zoo: Black Bears
Black bears may not be the first animal that comes to mind when you think of Texas wildlife. Many years ago, four of the 16 subspecies of black bear once roamed the state of Texas. Unfortunately, as the lone star state grew in popularity with settlers throughout the 19th century, the number of black bears began to dwindle as a result of habitat loss and unregulated hunting of the species. Today, at least two subspecies of black bear are making their way back into Texas due to growing populations in the surrounding states. Use this activity to learn just how important the forest is to a black bear!
