Smaller and less ferocious than their brown-furred cousins, black bears typically weigh 200-600 pounds (90-270kg) and measure up to six feet (1.8m) tall. One of the best places to spot them is Yellowstone, where they’re so widespread that they’ve become synonymous with the national park for many people. Despite what you might think, only around half of black bears are actually black in colour, while the rest are grey, blonde, brown or cinnamon-hued.

Read more about Yellowstone's unique ecosystem here

Amazing wild animals you can see in America’s national parks