Black Bear Experts???

[Wade Hampton]

We get black bears through our yard every summer. I haven’t seen any brown bears (grizzlies) yet, although some of the bear droppings have been large enough that it’s more than likely that brownies left them: both species live in the mountains right behind us.

And, yes, bears can definitely learn where the easy pickings are to be found. They’re not stupid.


whm

[KevWind]

No expert here but have lived in bear country for 40 years . So in answer to the OP's questions as far as my understanding.
Yes (as has been stated )they can and do memorize food source locations.
And the often have a routine search pattern but they can also alter that at any time

As far as size of range/territory that depends entirely on location and available food sources.
For females which are the most numerous it is estimated it can be roughly between 2.5 square miles (in location with dense cover and prolific food source) up to 10 square miles or more.
For males it can be 10 to 60 square miles

While black bears will avoid humans 999 time out of thousand ,
they can and have killed humans on rare occasion.


Like Wade we also live in Griz and Black territory Have seen a couple BLacks
but have yet to see a Griz in our area. But we have also seen some scat behind the house about 1/2 mile that was either a really big Black or Griz