The cinnamon bear ( Ursus americanus cinnamomum) is both a highly variable color morph and a subspecies of the American black bear, native to the United States and Canada.
As a subspecies, they therefore most likely exist alongside the mostly black-colored eastern American black bears present in those regions, and breed with them. Although there are also small populations located in the north east foothills and mountains of California, above 3,000 ft. elevation. The most striking difference between a cinnamon bear and any other black bear is its brown or red-brown fur (reminiscent of cinnamon), blocky head, and often a storage of fat causing a small hump on its back near the neck/shoulder. The subspecies was given this designation because the lighter color phase is more common there than in other areas. It is proposed that the brownish coats actually mimic a grizzly bear.
Cinnamon bears are excellent climbers, good runners, and powerful swimmers. They are mostly nocturnal, though they are sometimes active during daylight.
The bears hibernate during the winter, usually from late October or November to March or April, depending upon the weather conditions.yellowstone/online Their scat resembles that of domestic dogs.
Distribution
See also
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