What is the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear?
One of the most common questions our guides are asked is: “How do you tell the difference between a grizzly bear and a black bear?” The answer is not as simple as you might think! First, let’s discuss what characteristics are NOT good identifiers: color and size. While it may seem counterintuitive, not all black bears are black. Black bears can be black, brown, blonde, or cinnamon – a brown bear is not always a grizzly bear. And, while grizzlies are generally 1.5 – 2 times larger than black bears of the same age and sex class, size is often not the best way to tell these bear species apart. “Size depends on sex, age, and physical condition, so there is often overlap in the size of grizzly and black bears. Plus, when you are judging a bear from a distance, it can be nearly impossible to determine size and weight accurately.” (Greater Yellowstone Coalition). So, how can you tell a black bear from a grizzly bear?
Behavior:
Grizzly and black bears differ not only in appearance, but in behavior. Over 3.5 million years ago, the evolution of these two species diverged from their common ancestor. According to the National Park Service, “grizzly bears are more aggressive than black bears, and more likely to rely on their size and aggressiveness to protect themselves and their cubs from predators and other perceived threats.” Don’t let this discourage your trip to Yellowstone – no visitors were injured by grizzly bears in 2023!
Tracks:
You can still join in on the bear identification fun, even if you aren’t actively watching one! If you’re out hiking and spot a bear track, here are a few ways to figure out if it was a track left by a black bear or grizzly. A grizzly’s front foot track appears more square – you can draw a straight line that goes just in front of the pad and behind the toes. A black bear’s front foot track is more rounded; if you tried to draw the same straight line, it would intersect the outermost and innermost toes.
Appearance:
Like black bears, grizzly bear color ranges from black to blonde. “The common name grizzly is derived from the term ”grizzled,” which refers to white-tipped hair. Grizzled hair occurs mainly on the back and shoulders; thus, from a distance, a grizzly bear appears to have darker legs and lighter upper parts,” (Montanta Fish, Wildlife & Parks). Here in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, “many grizzly bears have a light-brown girth band,” and “in Yellowstone, about 50% of black bears are black in color; others are brown, blond, and cinnamon,” (Yellowstone Resources & Issues Handbook).
Grizzlies have longer, 3-4 inch, gently curved claws, and black bears have shorter, 1-2 inch, more curved claws. Grizzlies also have a shoulder hump, visible in profile, while black bears do not – their highest point is often the middle back or rump. These two characteristics also demonstrate behavioral differences. Both species are adapted to life in forests and meadows, but a black bear’s shorter, curved claws allow it to better climb trees, and a grizzly’s longer claws and larger shoulder muscles are better suited to digging in large, open areas.
If you take a tour with us and spot a bear through one of our spotting scopes, you’ll get a chance to see his or her face up close! A grizzly bear has smaller, more rounded ears, and a black bear has larger, more pointed ears. The facial profile of a grizzly is “dish-shaped” and appears concave between their eyes and nose, while a black bear’s profile appears longer and straighter.
Want to test your bear identification skills in Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Park? Book a tour with Wildlife Expeditions and let our knowledgeable guides show you the best spots for wildlife viewing while sharing their passion for natural history and cultural history of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/upload/8_RI_2024_Wildlife.pdf
https://www.nps.gov/articles/yell-wildlife-bear-differences.htm
https://greateryellowstone.org/grizzly-bear-vs-black-bear
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/wyoming-wildlife/large-carnivore/grizzly-bears-wyoming
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Bear Identification Course
