Who’s Who? 1.
Can you tell which is a grizzly bear and which is a black bear?
2.
Art Wolfe photo
The rare glacier or “blue” bear (pictured above) is
limited to the extreme north-west of the Province.
3. 4.
Tom and Pat Leeson photo
5. 6.
The white color phase, or Kermode (pictured above)
is most common on the north-central coast of B.C.
IT IS ILLEGAL TO HUNT EITHER
THE BLUE OR WHITE BLACK BEARS.
ANSWERS TO PHOTO QUIZ:
1. Black bear. Ears larger, more pointed; shorter
claws; face narrow.
2. Black bear. Ears larger, more pointed; face narrow;
no shoulder hump.
3. Grizzly bear. Long claws, but little else helps identify 7. 8.
this yearling bear!
4. Black bear. Ears larger, more pointed; no shoulder
hump.
5. Grizzly bear. Face broad; ears smaller, more
rounded; coat grizzled.
6. Grizzly bear. Face broad; ears smaller, more
rounded.
7. Grizzly bear. Face broad; shoulder hump; ears
smaller, more rounded; coat grizzled.
8. Black bear. Ears larger, more pointed; claws not
evident; no shoulder hump, just body position.
Know your Bears!
Some bear safety tips: All of these characteristics can vary with the sex
and age of the bear; for example, a young grizzly’s
• Have a plan of action. ears may appear larger because they’re still growing.
• Avoid camping in sites that may be Body position, behavior, and light conditions can
frequented by bears. affect appearance; for example, a black bear engaged
in digging may appear to have a shoulder hump.
• Keep a clean camp and dispose of
Size is also not a reliable indicator of species. Most
garbage properly. people overestimate the size of bears. A typical adult
• Never feed bears or other wildlife. female grizzly bear weighs 90 - 160 kg (200-350
pounds) and adult males weigh 135 - 275 kg (300-600
• Never approach a bear for any reason. pounds). An adult male black bear can easily weigh as
• Keep a reputable brand of bear pepper much or more than a female grizzly, and definitely
spray within easy reach and know how more than a young or sub-adult grizzly of either sex.
to use it. In order to tell the two species apart it is
important to look at shoulders, face, ears, and
claws because colour and size alone are not
Both the Safety Guide to Bears in the W ild reliable for identification.
Don’t Attract Bears to Garbage
Black Bears can be found throughout B.C.
brochures are available on our website Occasionally, Grizzly can be found in the areas
[Link] mapped as unoccupied.
For more information contact
Water, Land and Air Protection (WLAP)
Observe, Record and Report Colour and Size can be misleading.
1-800-663-9453 (WILD) Look for a combination of characteristics.
to report poaching or other
violations of wildlife and
environmental issues. • Colour varies from blond to black. • Colour varies from blond to black,
including white and blue.
• Distinctive shoulder hump.
• No distinctive shoulder hump.
Center For Wildlife Information • Rump is lower than shoulder hump.
• Rump is higher than front shoulders.
P.O. Box 8289, Missoula, Montana 59807 • Face profile appears dished-in
The Center For Wildlife Information is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
between eyes and snout. • Face profile is straight.
[Link]
• Ears are short and rounded.
• Ears are tall and pointed.
• Front claws are 5-10 cm
(2-4 inches)long, slightly curved. • Front claws are less than 4 cm
Claw marks are usually visible (2 inches) long and [Link]
in tracks. marks are not usually visible in
tracks.
