How to Tell the Difference Between a Grizzly Bear and a Black Bear

The two types of bears encountered in North America are the black bear and the grizzly. They both are dangerous, but the grizzly is far more likely to attack a human. Knowing the difference between the two can be vital.

Instructions

1. Many people feel as though identifying the black bear would be simple, as it would be black. This is not always true and very misleading. A black bear can be brown, tan, grey, black and any shade in between, and so can the grizzly bear. This is why color is the least preferred method of identifying the type of bear you are dealing with.

2. One way to see the difference between a grizzly and a black bear is the profile. A black bear does not have a hump at his shoulders like the famous grizzly hump. The black bear has a slumped appearance when on all fours with its rear end up in the air. The black bear has larger ears than the grizzly bear does. The black bear also is missing the ruffled hair under the neck that the grizzly often has.

3. Another difference that is not always reliable is size. The grizzly is the larger of the two bears, though the black bear is close enough that they can be mistaken for one another.

4. You may sometimes be able to tell which type of bear it is by location. The grizzly loves the wide open spaces, where the black bear tends to hang near or in the woods. These are general thoughts on location and both species will venture anywhere at times.

5. One sure way to recognize the grizzly bear is by the color or shade of its claws. They are light colored where the black bear has dark claws. However, you do not want to be close enough to the bear to see the color of its claws in the wild as that is far too close for safety.

6. Keep in mind that both species of bear are dangerous. Do not rely on any of these traits to identify a bear alone. Instead, look at the combination of factors. If you see several of these facts matching up, then you can be relatively sure of the species. Do not go near bears in the wild as they are dangerous in any situation. Black bear or grizzly bear, it makes no difference--stay away from them at all costs.

Tips & Warnings

• If you see a bear in the wild that does not see you, slowly turn and go the other way. A bear is fast and can catch you no matter how fast you may be. They are excellent climbers so trees are no refuge either.

• Bears are dangerous and will kill you if you venture too close.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish