Black Bear vs. Grizzly: How to Tell Them Apart
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A big brown bear walks out of the trees. Is it a grizzly? Not necessarily. It could easily be a black bear, because black bears aren't always black, and grizzlies aren't always brown.
Knowing the difference isn't just trivia. If a bear ever attacks, the right response depends on which kind it is. Here's how park rangers tell them apart. Keep in mind that these clues help you identify a bear; they're not a guarantee of how any bear will behave.
Don't trust the color
This is the number one mistake. Despite the name, American black bears can be black, brown, cinnamon, blond, gray and, in a few places, even white. Brown bears and grizzlies range from blond to almost black.
So a brown-colored bear can be a black bear, and a dark bear can be a grizzly. Rangers say it plainly: to identify a bear, don't depend on its color. Look at its shape instead.
Four key features to look for
1. The shoulder hump
This is the easiest clue. Grizzlies have a big, distinctive hump of muscle on their shoulders. Seen from the side, the hump is the highest point of the body, and the rump sits lower.
Black bears have no shoulder hump. Their back is flatter, and the rump is often the highest point.
One catch: a black bear that's digging or standing at an odd angle can look like it has a hump. Check more than one clue.
2. The face
Look at the bear's profile. A grizzly's face is "dished": it curves inward between the eyes and the tip of the nose. A black bear's face is straighter, running in a fairly straight line from forehead to nose.
3. The ears
Black bears have taller, more pointed ears that stand out on the head. A grizzly's ears are shorter and rounder, and they look small compared to its big head.
4. The claws
If you're close enough to see claws, you're too close. But in photos or tracks they're a great clue. Grizzly front claws are long and only slightly curved, about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm), depending on how much the bear digs. Black bear claws are shorter, under 2 inches, and more curved.
The claws match the lifestyle. Long, straighter claws and that big shoulder muscle make grizzlies great diggers: they dig up roots, plants and rodents. Short, curved claws make black bears excellent tree climbers.
Quick comparison
| American black bear | Grizzly (brown bear) | |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder hump | None | Big, distinctive hump |
| Face profile | Straight | Dished (curves inward) |
| Ears | Taller, more pointed | Shorter, rounder |
| Front claws | Under 2 in, curved | About 2 to 4 in, slightly curved |
| Height at the shoulder (on all fours) | About 2 to 3.5 ft | About 3 to 5 ft |
| Color | Black, brown, cinnamon, blond and more | Blond to almost black |
Check the tracks
Tracks can help too. On a front track, draw an imaginary line under the big toe pad and across the top of the main pad. On a grizzly track, that line runs through or below the bottom half of the little toe. On a black bear track, more of the little toe sits below the line. Grizzly tracks also show longer claw marks farther from the toes.
Where they live
- American black bears are the most widespread bear in North America, found across much of the US, Canada and Mexico. They're also the smallest of North America's three bears.
- Grizzlies are much rarer south of Canada. In the lower 48 states, the largest populations are in the Greater Yellowstone area and northwest Montana. Most grizzlies live in Alaska and western Canada.
If you're hiking in the eastern United States, a black bear is by far the most likely bear you'll meet. In places like Yellowstone or Glacier, it could be either, and that's exactly where these clues matter.
Fun fact: California's state flag shows a grizzly, but the only bears living in California today are black bears.
Grizzly or brown bear?
They're the same species, Ursus arctos. "Grizzly" is the common name for many brown bears in inland North America, while bears along the coast of Alaska are usually called brown bears. So every grizzly is a brown bear, but not every brown bear is called a grizzly.
Why it matters
Both bears can climb trees, so climbing won't save you from either one. And if a bear attacks, the advice is different:
- Grizzly or brown bear in a defensive attack: play dead, and fight back if the attack doesn't stop.
- Black bear: don't play dead. Get to safety if you can, and fight back.
- A bear that stalks you and then attacks, or attacks you inside your tent: don't play dead. Fight back.
In Yellowstone, most bear-caused injuries come from grizzlies, usually when hikers surprise a mother with cubs. Making noise and carrying bear spray helps with both species. For the full step-by-step guide, read What to Do If You See a Bear.
For the record, I'm the one with the hump. I've been working out.