What is the State Animal of West Virginia?
Black Bear is the official state animal of West Virginia. Black Bear was entitled as the official West Virginia state animal in 1973. Ursus americanus is the scientific name of Black Bear. On March 23, 1973, the Senate accepted House Concurrent Resolution No. 6 entitling the black bear West Virginia’s official state animal and the brook trout the official state fish of West Virginia, therefore, not neither are recorded as the official animal of the state in the West Virginia Code.
State animal of West Virginia Facts—
- Common Name: Black Bear
- Scientific Name: Ursusamericanus
- Color: Cinnamon, white, beige, and “blue” (slate gray) black bears
- Height: 5-7 feet
- Weight: 130 – 500 pounds
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Cubs: 2-3 (during winter)
- Major strength: Agility, smelling and hearing power
- Major weakness: Poor vision
- Lifespan: 20-35 years
West Virginia state animal, Black bears typically don’t roam very far. They are very defensive of their territory. They scratch trees with their claws to mark supremacy of a region. About 75% of a black bears diet are plants. They eat bird eggs, fish, small mammals, and carrion. They are omnivores but they do not try for large target mostly. Black Bears love to eat honey. In the summer, black bears consume wild cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and other brambles. In the fall, they consume acorns and nuts. West Virginia’s state animal, Black bears are tremendously agile.
They can run at about 35 miles per hour. They are good climbers and swimmers too. A typical adult black bears stand 3 feet high on all fours, but can range from 5 to 7 feet high when erect on two legs. They can weight from 130 – 500 pounds. Black bears can perceive in color. They have poor vision. Black bears possess an outstanding sense of hearing and a critical sense of smell. Black bears can remain active all year long. Black Bears lose up to 30% of their body weight during their hibernation phase. Black bears are watchful animals and characteristically not hostile towards human beings. Most black bear cubs are born around January. January’s full moon is occasionally called the ‘bear moon’ for this reason. State animal of West Virginia, Black bears naturally live 20-35 years if they are not exterminated by humans or causes related to humans.
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