Black Bears of the Pajarito Plateau

Adult Black Bear with Cup with a green background
Meet the Black Bear

The bear essentials: Bears must find food to eat, water to drink, safe places to sleep including winter dens, and survive fierce storms or heat. The females are kept busy raising their cubs in addition to finding food for themselves. Our job is to give bears plenty of space to live and to find their own healthy, natural foods. Their safety and ours depend on how we behave in bear country.

Watching a bear can be a wonderful experience. As more people live, recreate and travel where bears live, the chances of seeing black bears are rising. The key is to stay at a safe distance and never let bears get into birdseed, garbage or other human food.

Black Bear Quick Facts
What Bears Do & Where They Go

Black bears are active from spring through fall, and typically hibernate in winter, curled up in dens. Bears choose many different kinds of dens, including hollow trees, under fallen trees, excavated mounds, or in ‘nests’ under briar patches. In more temperate areas, male bears and females without cubs may not hibernate at all during the winter.

Adult bears generally lead solitary lives except during courting, although juveniles and adult males sometimes “play” together. Females raise cubs for up to a year and a half. Bears tend to be most active at dusk and dawn.

Stock photo of black bear cubs on a fallen tree

 

Home on the Range

Bears do not have territories, they have home ranges that often overlap. Several females may live within the home range of an adult male. A bear’s home range needs to be large enough to provide them with food, shelter, and mates. Males have larger home ranges (up to 300 square miles) than females (up to 50 square miles). Bears travel farthest when food is harder to find, especially in early spring.

A Sensational Nose

A black bear can smell the scent of a human in a footprint, ripe berries in the air, and a steak grilling a mile away. A bear’s big nose is seven times more sensitive than a bloodhound’s nose, or 2,100 times better than ours. An amazing amount of olfactory information swirls in from the outside world.

Bears Eat A Lot

From spring through late summer, a 250-pound bear needs about 3,000 to 3,500 calories per day. During the annual fall eat-a-thon (hyperphagia), bears can gain several pounds a day (20 to 100% of their summer weight), eating 15,000 to 20,000 calories or more each day preparing to hibernate.

Bears are omnivores: a bear’s natural diet is 70-85% plant based. In spring, they tend to eat mostly plants. In summer, they feast on berries and insects, and in fall, they harvest nuts and more berries. They also eat carrion (dead animals), small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Do Bears Really Hibernate?

Some people believe that bears are not true hibernators. Squirrels, bats, rodents, marmots and other true hibernators enter a state close to suspended animation where body temperatures fall close to freezing and metabolisms slow almost to a halt.

A bear’s metabolism, heartbeat and respiration rate drops dramatically, but its body temperatures only drops about 12 degrees during hibernation. They don’t eat at all, nor do they go to the bathroom; bears’ dens are remarkably clean and odor-free … unlike true hibernators who wake up every few days to drink, go to the bathroom and nibble some stored food before going back to sleep.

A bear’s body is a model of recycling. While they’re hibernating, they recycle all of their waste products and actually heal any injuries they may have had when they turned in. So many scientists now call bears “Super Hibernators” because they can fall into a deep sleep for four to six months without eating or drinking, wake up in the spring and head back out into the world.

 

What if I find a bear cub?

All About Bear Cubs

An average of two to three cubs are born in the den in January/February. At birth, they weigh only ½ to ¾ pounds. Cubs depend on their mothers for about a year and half.  She feeds them, teaches them, and protects them from predators that include foxes, coyotes, bobcats, dogs, and other bears.  Read more about bear cubs at BearWise.org

What to do if you find a bear cub...

Bears are great moms. It’s very unlikely the cubs have been abandoned. In fact, there’s an excellent chance mom is nearby, waiting anxiously for you to disappear. The longer you stay, the longer she will be separated from her cubs.

  • Don’t pick up cubs; even little bears have super sharp claws.
  • Don’t touch them or leave them food.
  • Please don’t turn them into real orphans by removing them from their home.

Typically, mom will return to gather up her family when no people or pets are around, usually after dark. As the cubs get older and more mobile, mother bears often leave their cubs to go forage for food (the kids are always hungry) as much as two miles away.

If you believe the cub is truly orphaned, do not touch it. Instead, snap a quick photo, note the location and immediately leave the area. Contact your state wildlife agency for further guidance.

Stay Safe on the Trails: Living and Hiking Responsibly with Wildlife in Los Alamos County

WildlifeEdu_Bobcat-Fawn-BlackBear.png

 

Spring has sprung! The bears are waking up and are hungry, the rattlesnakes are making an appearance, the coyote families are active, and the bobcats are being quite brave in the warmer weather and additional daylight hours. The ever-elusive mountain lions will be seeking fawns to support their growing families, and the deer will be hiding those fawns as a result. In Los Alamos County we have a responsibility to learn what it means to live with wildlife and coexist safely.

Stay Safe on the Trails: Living and Hiking Responsibly with Wildlife in Los Alamos County

Living in Los Alamos County means sharing our beautiful landscapes with a wide range of wildlife. While encounters with animals like bears, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, deer, and rattlesnakes are relatively uncommon, they do happen—especially along trails and open spaces. Understanding the risks and practicing smart habits can help keep you, your pets, and wildlife safe.

Wild animals are not naturally aggressive toward humans, but they may react defensively if surprised, protecting young, or seeking food. Off-leash pets are one of the most common causes of conflict. Dogs may chase or provoke wildlife, then run back to their owner—bringing a potentially dangerous animal with them. Even deer can become aggressive if they feel threatened. Rattlesnakes are another concern on local trails, particularly in the coming warmer months. They rely on camouflage and may not be seen until you’re very close.

Know Before You Go: Wildlife Habits

Bears & Coyotes: Most active at dawn and dusk; attracted to food and trash.

Mountain Lions & Bobcats: Elusive but may follow prey (including small pets).

Deer: Generally calm but can become aggressive when threatened or protecting fawns.

Rattlesnakes: Prefer warm, rocky areas and are most active in the spring and summer months. Often spotted in the early morning and at dusk.

Best Practices for Avoiding Encounters

Stay alert and aware of your surroundings—avoid using headphones at high volume.

Make noise while hiking to avoid surprising animals.

Keep a safe distance from any wildlife—never approach or feed them.

Hike during daylight hours when visibility is best.

Carry deterrents such as bear spray where appropriate.

Watch where you step and place your hands, especially around rocks or brush.

Protect Your Pet—Use a Leash!

Keeping your dog on a leash is one of the most effective ways to prevent dangerous wildlife encounters. Even well-trained dogs can react unpredictably when encountering wildlife.

When using a leash, it:

Keeps your dog from chasing or provoking wildlife

Prevents your pet from wandering into hidden dangers like snakes

Allows you to maintain control in a sudden encounter

Reduces the risk of your dog leading a predator back to you

In Los Alamos County, the leash law requires dogs to be on a leash in public areas, including parks and trails. However, there are designated areas where dogs may be off-leash. In these areas, dogs must always remain under the owner’s “voice and sight control.” Dogs must be on a leash when within 100 yards of a trailhead. Remember, leash laws are in place to protect pets, people, and animals alike.

What to Do If You Encounter Wildlife

Stay calm and do not run

Make yourself look larger and speak firmly

Slowly back away while maintaining visual contact

Keep pets close and under control

Give the animal plenty of space to escape

By staying informed and practicing responsible recreation, we can continue to enjoy the trails of Los Alamos County while safely coexisting with the wildlife that calls this area home. Help us keep wildlife wild! Learn more about the animals of the Pajarito Plateau at www.lacnm.com/wildlife.

Be Bear Aware: Black Bears in Spring

Black Bear in yellow flowers

 

As spring returns to the Jemez Mountains, black bears become more active throughout Los Alamos County. It’s an important time for residents and visitors alike to stay aware, take precautions, and understand how to safely coexist with Black Bears in our community.

Spring Behavior: Why You’re Seeing More Bears

After months of hibernation, black bears emerge in the spring hungry and focused on finding food. Natural food sources are still limited this time of year, which often leads bears to explore neighborhoods, commercial areas, parks and trails in search of easy meals. This can include unsecured trash, pet food, bird feeders, open dumpsters, and even open garages or patio doors.

Young bears may also be dispersing from their mothers and learning to navigate the environment on their own, often leading to more frequent sightings and unpredictable behavior.

Preventing Bear Encounters at Home

The most effective way to reduce bear encounters is to eliminate attractants:

-  Secure trash in bear-resistant roll carts and only set them out on the morning of pickup.

-  Never leave pet food, garbage, or coolers outside.

-  Clean grills thoroughly after use.

-  Remove or secure bird feeders during bear season. Pull feeders in at night.

-  Keep garage doors closed and windows locked on ground levels when possible.

Los Alamos County offers bear-resistant roll carts to help residents secure their trash and prevent wildlife from accessing it. These carts are a critical tool in reducing human-bear conflicts and protecting both people and wildlife. If you don’t already have one, consider making the switch. Visit lacnm.com/bearcart to request one today!

Preventing Bear Encounters on the Trails

Whether you’re hiking, running, or walking your dog, it’s important to be bear aware:

-  Make noise while on the trail to avoid surprising a bear.

-  Travel in groups when possible.

-  Keep dogs on a leash—loose pets can provoke or lead bears back to you.

-  Watch for signs like tracks, scat, or disturbed vegetation.

-  Avoid hiking at dawn or dusk, when bears are most active.

If you come across a bear in your neighborhood or on a trail:

-  Stay calm—do not run.

-  Make yourself look larger and speak in a firm, loud voice.

-  Slowly back away while keeping your eyes on the bear.

-  Give the bear plenty of space and an escape route.

-  Do not approach or attempt to feed the bear.

-  If the bear approaches, stand your ground and continue making noise.

-  In the rare case of an attack, fight back.

Report concerning bear behavior to the local New Mexico Dept. of Game & Fish Officer, Ariel Perraglio at 505-412-8796, so she can monitor activity and respond if needed.

Bears are a natural and important part of the ecosystem in Los Alamos County. By taking simple precautions and staying bear aware, we can reduce conflicts and help keep both our community and local wildlife safe.

Help us keep wildlife wild! Learn more about the animals of the Pajarito Plateau at www.lacnm.com/wildlife.

Who do I call to report an issue?

Is it a domestic animal?

Call the Los Alamos Police Department Animal Control at the non-emergency number at 505-662-8222. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

 
Is it a wild animal?

Contact your LA-WR-Española District Officer Ariel Perraglio today with questions or concerns at 505-412-8796. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

 

Back to top