Identification
Last Review/Updated: May 24, 2002
There are two species of bear in Alberta—the more common black bear (Ursus americanus), and the larger, but range-restricted grizzly bear (Ursus arctos). To fully enjoy bears in Alberta, one must understand and appreciate the differences in habitat use and habits of the two species. Camping, hiking or working in wild country can lead to close encounters with bears, and because each species may react in a different way, it is important to know how to tell them apart. Size and coat color are not good distinguishing features. Although grizzly bears are generally larger than black bears in each sex and age, adult black bears can be larger than young grizzlies. Both species can range in color from blonde to black. Under field conditions, bears are rarely in plan view; usually they are partially hidden by shrubs, trees or rock.
Distinguishing Features of Bears and Their Signs
Feature |
Grizzly Bear |
Black Bear |
|---|---|---|
| Color | May have silver or light-tipped guard hairs on head, hump and back | Uniform color |
| Hair | Shaggy, varied lengths | Uniform and smooth |
| Ears | Rounded; appear smaller overall | Somewhat more pointed and noticeable |
| Nose | Pig-like | Dog-like |
| Claws | Long (about 8-10 cm; 3-4 in); may have light strip | Short (about 2.5 cm; 1 in) and usually black |
| Face ruff | Present | Usually absent |
| Chest spot | Absent | Present in some |
| Tracks | Front claw marks 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) in front of toes Width of front pad can be greater than 15 cm (6 in). Toe arc lesser (see illustration) |
Claw marks close to toes Front pad rarely over 13 cm (5 in). Toe arc greater |
| Diggings | Common | Uncommon |
| Hair | May have banding and silver tips | Solid color |
| Food Carcasses | Buried in debris | Seldom buried |
Recognizing Bear Signs
If you know how to look for bear sign, you will find it in abundance. Tracks, especially if made in mud or snow, are commonly observed. Other bear signs include walking trails, scats, rolled logs or rocks, torn stumps, rubbed, chewed or claw-marked trees, beds and diggings. Following these signs is entertaining and educational, but must be done with caution and common sense so as not to unduly disturb the animal or put yourself in danger by getting too close.
The two species leave a different kind of track. In soft ground, the claw marks of black bears are sharply incised and are close to the toe marks; whereas, with grizzlies, the claw marks, especially of the front foot, are slight, often difficult to see, and well ahead of the toe marks. You can measure the width of the front (pad) track to help identify the bear, but because there is much overlap in size between species, sex and age of bears, consideration of pertinent factors is necessary. For example, in country where only black bears are known to occur, a track in excess of 13 centimetres (5 inches) wide is a large male. In grizzly country, front tracks greater than 15 centimetres (6 inches) wide are likely of that species.
Bears are creatures of habit. They return again and again to familiar areas and by stepping in their own tracks, leave a trail with indentations in the ground that may endure for years. Such trails may lead to favorite rub trees or food sources. The long claws of grizzlies can scoop up leaves into little piles.
When travelling in forests where ground cover is heavy, the first noticeable signs of a bear may be a log rolled over onto grass or other vegetation. The bear turned the log to search for and feed on insects sheltered below. Similarly, an old stump torn to shreds indicates that a bear fed on ants, other insects or their larvae.
Bear scats may be round (5 to 7.5 cm [2 to 3 in] in diameter) or, as is more often the case when a bear has been feeding on fresh greens such as horsetail or sedges, the scat may be patty or pie-like, but still obviously bear. You can examine these scats to identify the foods consumed by the bear.
Rubbed and chewed trees can show interesting details. Close examination may reveal countless hairs stuck in the sap or bark where the bear has rid himself of excessive winter hair or eased an itch. Most such trees will have chewings and some, bite marks at the height of the standing bear. Tall aspens will retain the claw-marked trail of a climbing black bear for the life of the tree, and these well-marked trees are often at intersections of forest trails.
Bears make beds or scrapes on the ground surface. Such "day beds" are slightly scooped into the ground or may be lined with boughs of conifers. If you are in bear country in spring (when bears are just leaving winter dens) or in fall (when bears are about to enter dens), do not go to sleep in the bear's bed as you may soon have company.
"The bear respected (early) man, who had the advantage of his primitive weapons, but did not fear him. Man in turn respected and in some cases even revered the bear; there is paleontological evidence from cave paintings and preserved skulls of a bear cult dating back some 40 000 years to Neanderthal times. Later, the grizzly bear would be held sacred by some western Indian tribes. Others, as a test of courage, would challenge the bear to mortal combat in the hope of obtaining a bear claw necklace, a token of bravery and tribal status."
—Frank Craighead, Track of the Grizzly
