Numbers on a Bear: teacher key

Black Bears, grade 7 edition, written for 7th grade. Black bears range from Alaska to Mexico. This is a look at how big they are, what they eat as the seasons turn, and how a mother raises cubs in a winter den.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. How many black bears does Alaska have, as of November 2026?
   • About 1,000
   • An estimated 100,000 (answer)
   • About 10 million
2. Which source gives the weight of male black bears as 47 to 409 kilograms?
   • A zoo guide
   • A national park sign
   • Animal Diversity Web (answer)
3. What do humming sounds from nursing cubs show?
   • The cubs are satisfied (answer)
   • The cubs are lost
   • The den is cold
4. Why is spring a hard time for black bears?
   • The cubs are too big
   • Dens fill with water
   • It is hard to find food (answer)
5. What do black bears do with their time in winter dens?
   • They eat salmon
   • They do not eat or drink for months (answer)
   • They climb trees

Words

• dormant: winter rest
• fertilized: ready to grow
• predators: animal hunters
• nursing: feeding milk