Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "Black Bear and Sugar Maple" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor on Paper.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was published in the limited edition collection of philatelic proofcards issued by Fleetwood and the National Audubon Society for the Wildlife of the 50 States.

Outgoing and inquisitive, Black Bears delight sightseers in many North American woodlands. They clown and cavort, beg for hand-outs and manage to survive, even though civilization encroaches on their territory. Smokey, the number one supporter of fire prevention in America, was a Black Bear cub when he was rescued from a New Mexico forest fire in 1951. When full-grown, Smokey became a resident of Washington, D.C.'s National Zoological Park. Not all Black Bears are as trustworthy as Smokey however, and, while they will docilely take sweets from human hands, they are just as capable of becoming aggressive. When not eating goodies offered by sightseers, Black Bears are primarily vegetarians. They eat berries and roots with only an occasional treat of rodents, ants or fresh meat. All this food insulates the Black Bear for a long winter's nap. From October to May, they sleep in caves or hollow logs. Females are roused from their lazy slumbers by the birth of cubs, usually twins, born in midwinter. The babies huddle against their mothers while they nurse until spring brings good weather and their first chance to discover the world. Mom teaches the cubs to climb trees like the Sugar Maple, chosen as West Virginia's state tree. She gently gives them lessons in hunting and cuffs them when they disobey. Cute, and just asking to be cuddled, Black Bear cubs captured Teddy Roosevelt's heart and inspired the ever-popular Teddy Bear that many young children now treasure.

Image Size: 11.75 x 14.25 in.
Overall Size: 20.25 x 22.25 in. Framed behind plexiglass. (B05662)

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