Despite the fact that much of their diet consists of vegetable matter and they are not above eating dead animals that they come across, black bears are predators. If an opportunity presents itself, a bear will hunt and kill its own prey. Any animal that wanders too close to the bear is fair game, possibly even a human being, although this would be unusual. Injured animals are easily taken. The black bear can run uphill or downhill, climb trees, or swim at amazing speeds, but only for short distances.