The Appalachian Mountains are home to some incredible species, and among the kings of these American Jungles, is the North American black bear. I find these creatures absolutely fascinating because of their seemingly happy yet dangerous appearance and behavior. Like many other predatory animals, they are also increasingly threatened by invasive human behavior on their homelands. In ten years of deer hunting I have caught one glimpse of this highly elusive animal, and rightly so, if I were a bear you wouldn't see me anywhere near the scent of a person. Because of their elusive behavior, I found many of the amateur photos on Flikr very impressive for both their contents and artistic characteristics. The black bear is a species that makes me proud to live in the USA and be a part of its rich environment. Some general information regarding the North American black bear and the many sub species can be found here.

Not all black bears are actually black as is shown in this first photo. I find it very interesting that the color contrast in the photo comes more from the lighting than any object actually dominating with a contrast in color. It really shows how adept and camouflaged these animals are in their natural environment. Additionally, the contrast in size of the two animals and their similar positioning in terms of hierarchy makes one think, who's the boss in this relationship?

I love this picture and it may actually be my favorite out of the bunch. To think that this tiny little animal can be supported by the supple limbs of a pine tree, and then subsequently grow to be a hulking beast weighing hundreds of pounds, blows my mind. In a couple of years this little fella will be sprinting up much larger pine trees if is so lucky to make it that long. As far as the pictures visual qualities go, the lighting is very impressive. The light shining on the back of the little cub make his fur resemble the pine needles he is nestled up in. I also find it interesting how the pine needles in front of the cub are so brightly lit, contrasting against his dark fur. His confident placement in the tree at such a young age is also a testament to what these creatures are. It would make and interesting story tracing the myth of climbing trees to escape bears back to its roots.

Now this big girl is more what one expects a black bear to look like. Big, fat, and black on its rear legs picking berries. Aside from him/her being a large and excellent specimen of the North American black bear, it couldn't be set against a more beautiful setting. The bears solid and dark coloring contrasts very heavily against the colorful background and creates a stunning image in which both the bear and the plants play an important part. The bear is also positioned beeautifully within the frame of the photograph, much as a person would be. It is understandable that these beautiful animals are so elusive of human beings considering the two species rarely get along. Even Grizzly Man met his untimely fate when getting too close to the grizzly bears he adored so much in Alaska. But who is to blame for this general sense of uneasiness between species?

When bears and humans collide. This picture really illustrates the problems between bear and human interaction. Bears have no real interest in people as a source of food, however, they are highly intrigued by the trash people tend to leave when camping. So usually the only bear one will run into in the wilderness is a hungry one on the hot trail of a Twinkie wrapper. Yea it seems kind of funny, but it is not good for the bears or the people involved.