Great Bear Sea: Bear Identification

Submitted by Rosie Child – Field Technician, University of Victoria and Spirit Bear Research Foundation

Copyright 2016 © Exploring the Great Bear Sea Curriculum Resources www.greatbearsea.net

Bear Identification

People often assume that black bears are black and that grizzly bears are brown. Grizzly bears are usually brown but can be very light to very dark in colouring. Black bears are usually black but can also be white, blue, cinnamon, or brown.

It is best to use multiple characteristics to ID bears, such as colour, size, shoulder hump, face shape, and ear size.

Bear IdentificationColour

• Grizzly bears are usually brown and black bears are usually black, but there is a lot of variation so colour is not the best way to identify bears.

Size

• Adult grizzly bears are usually larger than adult black bears but females and young bears are smaller and make size unreliable.

Shoulder Hump

• Grizzly bears have a prominent shoulder hump that is a mass of muscle that helps them dig.

Face Shape

• Black bears have a straight face profile, while grizzly bears have a more dished face profile.

Ear Size

• Black bears have taller ears in proportion to their head than grizzly bears shorter rounded ears.

Claws

• Grizzly bears have longer front claws, that are usually lighter than black bear claws.

1. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

2. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

3. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

4. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

5. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

6. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

7. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

8. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

9. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

10. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

11. Black bear or Grizzly bear?

Answer Key

1. Black bear – See the black colour, straight nose and tall ears.2. Grizzly bear – This one is difficult! Because it is a juvenile (young) bear, its ears appear large like a black bear and although it is brown, it is quite dark in colour.3. Black bear – Black colouring, strait snout, and short claws.4. Grizzly bear – Brown colouring, rounder ears, shoulder hump.5. Black bear – Tall ears, black colour, straight snout.6. Black bear – Pointed tall ears, straight snout, black colouring.7. Grizzly bear – Shoulder hump, rounded ears, dished face profile.8. Grizzly bear – Shoulder hump, dished face profile, light brown colour. Ears look tall and pointed like a black bear because it’s a young individual.9. Black bear – Straight snout. White bears are black bears with a double recessive gene. 10. Black bear – Straight snout, tall pointed ears, short dark claws.11. Grizzly bear – Shoulder hump, long claws, short round ears, dished snout.