Louisiana State Mammal
American Black Bear (common name) Ursus americanus (scientific name) Overview The black bear is the most common bear species native to North America. These bears are much smaller and less aggressive than brown bears, but they are still formidable, large, and bulky omnivores. They have manes of shaggy black hair, round ears, long snouts, large bodies, and short tails. Black bears have an excellent sense of smell that allows them to adeptly locate food. The black bear is one of the more popular choices for state animal, having been designated as such by Alabama in 2006, Louisiana in 1992, New Mexico in 1963, and West Virginia in 1973. Bears are an important part of many indigenous cultural and religious beliefs and thus accorded a great deal of respect. Indigenous peoples once used them for their fur, meat, and fat. Close-up STATUS Official ALSO KNOWN AS North American black bear, black bear PHYSICAL DETAILS Color:  Typically black but can also be chocolate-brown, cinnamon-brown, or, west of the Mississippi, occasionally blonde.      Males Females Size 5–6.7 ft (150–220 cm); tallest 7 ft (212 cm) 4–5 ft (132–165 cm) Weight 155–600 lbs (70–275 kg); average 250 lbs (113 kg); largest 880 lbs (400 kg) 90–400 lbs (40–180 kg); average 150 lbs (68 kg); largest 520 lbs (236 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 36 years; average of 10 years in the wild HABITAT Typically lives in mountainous woodlands in protected parks and preserves, although they will roam into adjacent populated areas. While they prefer forested or shrubby areas they also live on ridge tops, tidal basins, burned forests, river valleys, cultivated fields, avalanche chutes, hardwood and conifer swamps, and dry sage and juniper habitats. Range: Northern Alaska to northern Mexico and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, but absent from the Great Plains. Conservation: Least Concern (LC). The Louisiana black bear subspecies was designated as threatened in 1992; recovery efforts included a 3.5 million-acre Louisiana Black Bear Habitat Restoration and Planning "corridor" of preserves and parks running from the Arkansas/Louisiana border to the Gulf of Mexico. BEHAVIOR Black bears hibernate during the winter in hollowed-out trees, cavities under logs or rocks, in caves, or in culverts and other shallow depressions. They do not eat, drink, or leave the den during hibernation, although they remain somewhat alert. Females give birth and nurse their young toward the end of the hibernation period. Black bears can stand and walk on their hind legs and are powerful swimmers. Unlike brown bears, black bears rarely engage in violent confrontation and prefer to growl, charge, and take swipes at opponents. Black bears will compete with cougars, wolverines, and wolves over animal carcasses. Top land speed recorded: 30 mph (48 kph) DIET Plants (skunk cabbage, horsetail), meat (representing 15 percent of its diet), fruit (apples, berries), honey, acorns, and insects (carpenter ants, yellow jackets, bees, wasps, termites, bee larvae). Meat is usually from small young animals like fawns and even moose calves, although it can include large fish (trout and salmon), alligator eggs, crayfish, and carrion. Bears will also forage at garbage dumps. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Annual Birthing period: January–February Average litter size: 2–5 cubs Size at birth: 10–14 oz (280–400 g) TRIVIA The teddy bear plush toy was named after President Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt after he refused to shoot a black bear on a hunting trip in Mississippi in 1902. Christopher Robin Milne named his teddy bear "Winnie-the-Pooh" after a black bear cub named "Winnipeg" that he and his father (author A.A. Milne) saw at the London Zoo. The black bear is the mascot of several universities including Baylor, Cornell, Missouri State, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Central Arkansas. Chicago’s professional football team (the Bears) and their National League baseball team (the Cubs) are both named after black bears.
	Click to enlarge an image Male Black Bear Female Black Bear with Cubs Juvenile Black Bears CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ursus Species: U. americanus
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

Louisiana State Mammal
Catahoula Leopard Dog (common name) Canis lupus familiaris (scientific name) Overview The Catahoula leopard dog was born several centuries ago as a cross of several breeds. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers arrived in what is now the American South. They brought war and hunting dogs, probably mastiffs, greyhounds, and bloodhounds. According to legend, these were bred with a breed of dog kept by American Indians, a breed considered to have been the only domestic animal on the continent at that time. The Catahoula leopard dog was named for its native region, the Catahoula Lake region in north central Louisiana. (The word catahoula is Choctaw for "sacred lake.") This breed has several names, including Catahoula cur. A cur is a mixed breed of dog, indicating that this dog is not a true hound. Close-up STATUS Official State Dog ALSO KNOWN AS Louisiana Catahoula leopard dog, Catahoula dur, Louisiana Catahoula dur, Catahoula hound, Catahoula leopard hound, Catahoula hot dog PHYSICAL DETAILS This is a medium-sized dog with a long tail. The dog’s coat is normally dense, short, and a single layer. The Catahoula leopard dog is notable for its coloring, typically a mixture of white, gray, and black, but is also seen in a variety of other colors, especially red, blue, brown, and even patchwork. This breed often displays merle coats, which means the underlying solid base color is marked with patches of white or lighter shades of blue, gray, or red. Merle may also affect the coloring of the eyes, nose, and paw pads. A Catahoula leopard dog’s eyes are normally blue, bluish-white, or gray, and are commonly glassy or marbled. Because this breed has strong legs and its feet are more prominently webbed than other breeds, this dog is usually an excellent swimmer. Size: Adults are generally 20–26 inches (51–58 cm) tall at the withers. Weight: Adults are normally 50–90 pounds (23–41 kg). LIFESPAN Approximately 12–13 years. HABITAT Although native to Louisiana, this breed is seen nationwide. In addition to the United States, Catahoula leopard dogs are also used as hunting dogs in Australia and New Zealand. BEHAVIOR The Catahoula leopard dog is known for being intelligent, energetic, affectionate, and good with children, making it a popular pet. This dog is also protective and can be reserved or even aggressive toward strangers, making it useful as a guard dog. Whatever its role, a Catahoula leopard dog is athletic, energetic, and agile, and it requires lots of attention and exercise. Since the beginning days of the breed, this territorial dog has displayed excellent herding and hunting abilities. Early settlers often employed its working instinct in herding cattle or hunting wild boar. These traits, in addition to the Catahoula leopard dog’s desire to be occupied by a chore, make the breed common as a working dog. DIET Dogs are omnivores, requiring protein in their diet for optimal health. Grains and vegetables can also make up large portions of a dog’s diet. Dogs are natural scavengers, but a pet’s diet normally consists of food supplied by its owner. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Biannually Birthing period: 56 to 72 days Average litter size: One to 12 puppies TRIVIA The Catahoula leopard dog is the only breed of dog native to the state of Louisiana and was designated that state’s official dog in 1979. In 2007, Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport voted this breed as its official school mascot.
	Click to enlarge an image Catahoula Leopard Dog CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Canus Species: C. lupus Subspecies: C. l. familiaris
	Author: World Trade Press