00:00Black bears thrive as forests regrow and suburbs expand into their territory.
00:06A black bear climbs a backyard apple tree in New Jersey.
00:09Black bears are expanding because forests, suburbs, food sources and protections give them room.
00:15Eastern forests have regrown across many states, giving black bears thicker cover, den sites and travel corridors.
00:23Suburban neighborhoods place trash cans, bird feeders, grills and fruit trees near woods where bears already roam.
00:31Black bears eat berries, acorns, insects, carrion crops and garbage, helping them survive in changing landscapes.
00:38Mother bears raise cubs in wooded patches near towns where hunting pressure and predators may be lower.
00:45Wildlife agencies monitor bear numbers with radio collars, trail cameras, hair snares and public sighting reports.
00:52Bear-proof trash bins keep neighborhoods safer, but unsecured garbage can teach bears to return at night.
00:59National parks and protected forests give black bears large areas where people must store food carefully.
01:05Warmer seasons can stretch feeding time, letting bears search longer for nuts, fruit, insects and human leftovers.
01:12New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Tennessee towns now report bears crossing yards, roads and school fields.
01:20Black bears usually avoid people, but food rewards can turn shy animals into bold neighborhood visitors.
01:27Forests, trash cans, apple trees, acorns and quiet suburbs now help black bears spread.
01:34A black bear drops from an apple tree and disappears behind the backyard fence.
01:39A black bear drops from an apple tree and disappears.
01:39A black bear drops from an apple tree and disappears.
01:40A black bear drops from an apple tree and disappears.
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