Comparing black bear to grizzlies

[brobear]

black bear – straight facial profile. 

[brobear]

Ear shape

Grizzly bears have smaller, more rounded ears (in proportion to their head size), that are much fuzzier looking (the fur is longer). Whereas the ears of a black bear appear larger, longer, more erect, and pointed. As seen below, you will have to take into account, whether the angle at which you are looking at the bear. If the grizzly bear has been swimming, his/her ears will appear bigger relative to the wet head.

[brobear]

grizzly bear – typical ears. 

[brobear]

grizzly bear – ears appear larger (head fur is wet).  

[brobear]

black bear – typical ears. 

[brobear]

black bear – ears can appear smaller because of angle of view.  

[brobear]

Front claws

Long claws on the front paws are also a good way to differentiate a grizzly from a black bear. For obvious reasons, this method has its limitations! Grizzly bears have gently curved, often light-colored, two- to four inch long claws adapted for digging roots and excavating a winter den or small prey. The claws of an adult grizzly can be longer than a person’s finger. Black bears have shorter, more sharply curved, dark claws that are often much less than two inches long. These claws are well adapted for climbing trees and tearing into rotten logs in search of insects.

[brobear]

grizzly bear claws.

[brobear]

black bear claws. 

[brobear]

Tracks

Compared to a black bear’s tracks, grizzly tracks of the front feet are more square. If you take a straight edge and hold it across the track of a grizzly front foot, just in front of the pad and behind the toe on either side, it will not cross the toe on the other side of the foot. A black bear front track is more rounded and a straight edge will cross the toe on the other side of the foot.

[brobear]

grizzly tracks.

[brobear]

black bear tracks.  

[Montezuma]

I feel very sorry about the black bear.

Watch a Grizzly Bear Maul a Black Bear in Canada

The grisly scene took place near the border of British Columbia and Alberta

SEP 1, 2023



www.fieldandstream.com/survival/watch-a-grizzly-bear-maul-a-black-bear-in-canada/