Bailey came to the Wildlife Waystation because his former owner could no longer care for him.

Bailey now resides in a comfortable bear enclosure built with the efforts of several volunteers. He has grown accustomed to lots of human love and care.

When it comes to eating, Bailey is known as a finicky bear and prefers to stick to a steady diet of fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and occasionally fish. Crackers are his snack of choice.

Bailey the Black Bear

Because Bailey has been cared for by humans, he can never safely return to the wild. Nevertheless, he serves as a reminder to people about the importance of protecting American black bears and their native habitats.

The American black bear is a member of the Ursidae family. Although most American black bears have black fur with a brown muzzle, many have brown, tan, cinnamon or blond fur. Most black bears have a white patch on their chest. They occur in Northern Mexico, 32 states of the U.S., and Canada.

The American black bear has strong, highly curved claws that are much shorter than those of the grizzly bear. They are omniverous and vary considerably in size depending on the quality of food available. The weight of an adult male can range between 130 to 660 pounds. Females are smaller.

When alarmed, black bears often climb trees for safety. They have been clocked running at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. NEVER APPROACH OR FEED BEARS IN THE WILD.