Grizzly Bear vs Black Bear

Black bear frontal.
Looking a black bear in the face.
Grizzly frontal.
Looking a grizzly in the face.
Side view of Black Bear.
Black bear from the side showing rump higher than the shoulder. Also, notice that the face is almost a flat line from the forehead to the nose.
Side view of a grizzly bear.
Side view of the grizzly bear. See, the shoulders are higher than the rump. The muscles in the hump help the bear to dig in the dirt and to flip logs and stones.

Black Bear

Characteristics
  • Rump taller than shoulders
  • Straight face profile, little to no gap below ruler if put on forehead and nose
  • Ears larger, more erect, and more pointed
  • Short dark claws, 1.5 inches

Grizzly Bear

Characteristics
  • Shoulders taller than rump
  • Has a somewhat concave profile, with a big gap below the ruler if put on the forehead and nose
  • Smaller, more rounded ears
  • Long light claws, 2-4 inches

Bears have super-smelling abilities. Compared to humans, per the National Institute of Health:

  • An  average dog is 100 times better
  • Bloodhound is 300 times better
  • Bear is 2,100 times better, or 7 times better than a bloodhound

Bears have been known to make 18-20-mile journeys in pursuit of carrion. Where you or I make a visual map to navigate around us. Bears are thought to make olfactory maps. What a neat skill.

To learn more about the grizzly bear, visit this page.

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