<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <P> Euarctos americanus </P> </Td> </Tr> <P> The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a medium - sized bear native to North America . It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species . Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location . They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in search of food . Sometimes they become attracted to human communities because of the immediate availability of food . The American black bear is the world's most common bear species . </P> <P> It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a least - concern species, due to its widespread distribution and a large population estimated to be twice that of all other bear species combined . Along with the brown bear, it is one of only two of the eight modern bear species not considered globally threatened with extinction by the IUCN . American black bears often mark trees using their teeth and claws as a form of communication with other bears, a behavior common to many species of bears . </P> <P> Despite living in North America, black bears are not closely related to brown bears and polar bears; genetic studies reveal that they split from a common ancestor 5.05 million years ago (mya). American and Asian black bears are considered sister taxa, and are more closely related to each other than to other species of bear . According to recent studies, the sun bear is also a relatively recent split from this lineage . </P>

Are black bears and brown bears different species