How to Track Bears

This article focuses on the American Black Bear. The guidelines for tracking are the same no matter what type of bear you want to track, but the measurements and prints in this article are specific to the black bear. Black bears are nocturnal and they hibernate through the winter.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Examine the individual tracks. The black bear has 5 toes on all 4 feet. Claw marks don't always show, but when they do, they are further forward from the foot then, for example, dog claw prints. The black bear has a "C" shape in between the palm pad and toes. The bear's rear foot usually measures 6 to 7 inches long and about 3 1/2 inches wide. The bear's front foot measures 4 1/2 inches long and about 4 inches wide.

2. Look at the whole track cluster. A bear's hind foot often oversteps or lands ahead of the front foot. If in a slow walk, the hind print should land on top of the front print.

3. Measure the stride, or distance between footfalls on the same side. Measure from the top edge of one foot to the top edge of the next foot print from the same side. The average stride is 18 to 28 inches.

4. Measure the straddle or width of the trail. Measure from the outside edge of the left stride line to the outside edge of the right stride line. The average straddle is between 13 ½ to 18 ½ inches.