Types of Bear in Vermont
Vermont is home to one bear species: the American black bear. These medium to large predators inhabit the state's forests, mountains, and wilderness areas, with populations strongest in the Northeast Kingdom and along the Green Mountains. Black bears are Vermont's only native bear, and sightings in the state remain relatively uncommon for wildlife watchers, making a bear encounter a noteworthy experience.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
- 1
- species recorded
- May, June, July
- peak months
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
2,056 verified observations on iNaturalist of bear have been recorded in Vermont, most often in May, June, July.
When bear are recorded in Vermont
Vermont is home to one bear species: the American black bear. These medium to large predators inhabit the state's forests, mountains, and wilderness areas, with populations strongest in the Northeast Kingdom and along the Green Mountains. Black bears are Vermont's only native bear, and sightings in the state remain relatively uncommon for wildlife watchers, making a bear encounter a noteworthy experience.
What do black bears in Vermont look like?
Black bears in Vermont typically weigh 200 to 400 pounds when fully grown, though adult females average 150 to 200 pounds and males often exceed 300 pounds. Despite their name, black bears can have dark brown or cinnamon-colored fur, but Vermont's bears are predominantly black or very dark brown. They have a distinctive straight profile along the face and forehead, unlike grizzly bears, which have a scooped-out profile. Their ears are rounded and prominent, their paws are large with non-retractable claws, and their tails are very short. An adult black bear stands about 3 to 4 feet tall on all fours and up to 5 to 6 feet when standing upright on hind legs.
How to identify black bears by size and color
In Vermont, black bears range from dark charcoal to pure black, with a small percentage showing brown or cinnamon tones. Younger bears weigh much less than adults: cubs born in winter stay with their mother for approximately one and a half years and weigh 50 to 100 pounds. Subadult bears, roughly one to three years old, weigh 100 to 200 pounds. Because Vermont's only bear species is black bears, any bear sighting in the state is safe to assume is an American black bear. Size alone tells you the bear's approximate age: a large bear of 300-plus pounds is almost certainly an adult male, while a smaller animal in the 150 to 250-pound range may be a female or a younger male.
Bear tracks and other field signs in Vermont
Black bear paw prints are among the largest animal tracks you might find in Vermont's wild areas. Their front paw prints are roughly 4 to 5 inches wide and 7 to 9 inches long, resembling a human handprint with long claw marks above the toes. Hind paw prints are much larger, about 7 inches wide and 9 to 11 inches long, and look remarkably like a bare human footprint. Other signs of bears include overturned logs and stones where they've dug for insects and grubs, claw marks on trees where they've climbed or stripped bark, scat (droppings) full of berries or plant material, and torn-apart ant hills. In spring, bears often mark territory by rubbing against trees, leaving fur, claw scratches, and scent marks.
Are there any other bear species in Vermont?
No. Vermont has only one native bear species: the American black bear. Grizzly bears, polar bears, and other species do not occur in Vermont naturally or in the wild. All bear sightings in the state are black bears. This makes identification straightforward and means Vermont wildlife watchers never need to worry about distinguishing between multiple bear types.
What are black bears eating when you see them in Vermont?
Black bears are omnivores and eat whatever is most abundant and easy to access. In spring, they forage for plant growth, roots, and emerging vegetation after emerging from winter dens. In early summer, they hunt for ants, termites, and other insects by tearing into logs and turning over rocks. As summer progresses, they feed heavily on berries, particularly wild blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries when in season. In autumn, bears seek out nuts, acorns, and seeds to build fat reserves before winter denning. They also eat small animals, fish, and carrion when available. A bear's diet depends entirely on what the forest offers at that time of year, so their behavior and location change seasonally.
Black bear behavior and what it means when you observe it
Black bears are generally shy and avoid humans, but they are unpredictable and dangerous when surprised, defending cubs, or protecting food. A bear standing upright on hind legs is not necessarily aggressive; it may simply be trying to see or smell better. A bear huffing, growling, or making loud vocalizations is warning you to back away. If a bear is looking directly at you and approaching, do not run; instead, make yourself appear large, speak calmly and firmly, and slowly back away. Bears that appear unafraid of humans or approach camps and homes are dangerous and should never be approached or fed. Such bears are typically hazed or removed by state wildlife officers to prevent injury.
When is peak bear season in Vermont?
Bears are active year-round except during winter denning, typically from November through March or April depending on snow and temperature. Peak activity for wildlife watchers occurs in fall, particularly September through early November, when bears are feeding intensively on nuts and berries to build fat reserves before hibernation. Spring, from April through May, is also a good time to see bears as they emerge and forage on new vegetation, though sightings remain infrequent. Summer is the hardest season to observe bears because they are more dispersed and feeding on low-calorie insects in the forest. Bears do not truly hibernate; they enter a state called torpor in which metabolism drops but they may wake during warm spells.
Where in Vermont do black bears live?
Black bears in Vermont are concentrated in the Northeast Kingdom (Essex, Orleans, and Caledonia counties in the northeast) and along the Green Mountains running north to south through the state. They are less common in the western Lake Champlain region and the Connecticut River Valley, though populations are expanding slowly into these areas and into southern Vermont over recent decades. The vast forested areas, mountains, and remote logging roads of central and northern Vermont provide the large territories bears need. As a wildlife watcher, focus on the trunk page's regional guides and the Northeast Kingdom section for your highest likelihood of encountering bears.
Gear and field guides
Conservation status, source NatureServe
Conservation rank for bear (American Black Bear, Ursus americanus), as assessed by NatureServe Explorer.
| Scope | NatureServe rank | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| In Vermont | S5 | Secure |
| Global (rangewide) | G5 | Secure |
NatureServe ranks run from 1 (critically imperiled) to 5 (secure). See our data methodology for how this is sourced.
Frequently asked questions
What do black bears in Vermont look like?+
Black bears in Vermont typically weigh 200 to 400 pounds when fully grown, though adult females average 150 to 200 pounds and males often exceed 300 pounds. Despite their name, black bears can have dark brown or cinnamon-colored fur, but Vermont's bears are predominantly black or very dark brown. They have a distinctive straight profile along the face and forehead, unlike grizzly bears, which have a scooped-out profile. Their ears are rounded and prominent, their paws are large with non-retractable claws, and their tails are very short. An adult black bear stands about 3 to 4 feet tall on all fours and up to 5 to 6 feet when standing upright on hind legs.
Are there any other bear species in Vermont?+
No. Vermont has only one native bear species: the American black bear. Grizzly bears, polar bears, and other species do not occur in Vermont naturally or in the wild. All bear sightings in the state are black bears. This makes identification straightforward and means Vermont wildlife watchers never need to worry about distinguishing between multiple bear types.
What are black bears eating when you see them in Vermont?+
Black bears are omnivores and eat whatever is most abundant and easy to access. In spring, they forage for plant growth, roots, and emerging vegetation after emerging from winter dens. In early summer, they hunt for ants, termites, and other insects by tearing into logs and turning over rocks. As summer progresses, they feed heavily on berries, particularly wild blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries when in season. In autumn, bears seek out nuts, acorns, and seeds to build fat reserves before winter denning. They also eat small animals, fish, and carrion when available. A bear's diet depends entirely on what the forest offers at that time of year, so their behavior and location change seasonally.
When is peak bear season in Vermont?+
Bears are active year-round except during winter denning, typically from November through March or April depending on snow and temperature. Peak activity for wildlife watchers occurs in fall, particularly September through early November, when bears are feeding intensively on nuts and berries to build fat reserves before hibernation. Spring, from April through May, is also a good time to see bears as they emerge and forage on new vegetation, though sightings remain infrequent. Summer is the hardest season to observe bears because they are more dispersed and feeding on low-calorie insects in the forest. Bears do not truly hibernate; they enter a state called torpor in which metabolism drops but they may wake during warm spells.
Where in Vermont do black bears live?+
Black bears in Vermont are concentrated in the Northeast Kingdom (Essex, Orleans, and Caledonia counties in the northeast) and along the Green Mountains running north to south through the state. They are less common in the western Lake Champlain region and the Connecticut River Valley, though populations are expanding slowly into these areas and into southern Vermont over recent decades. The vast forested areas, mountains, and remote logging roads of central and northern Vermont provide the large territories bears need. As a wildlife watcher, focus on the trunk page's regional guides and the Northeast Kingdom section for your highest likelihood of encountering bears.
Keep exploring
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