Grizzly Vs Black Bears
Both grizzly and black bears are found in Island Park, eastern Idaho, and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Both species are attracted by smells and can detect odors from several miles away. Both species return to places where they found food before – coming back to your home, yard, campground, or neighborhood if they previously found food there, even years before. Both species are powerfully strong. Both can run much faster than a person – about 35 miles per hour. Both can climb trees. Both can attack to defend cubs or a food source or when they feel threatened. Both can be dangerous to people or pets.
Regarding appearance, they can be difficult to tell apart. Both grizzly and black bears may appear in a wide range of colors. Grizzlies are generally larger than black bears, but not always. The best indicators of the species are the size of the shoulders, the profile of the face, and the length of the claws. The grizzly bear has a pronounced shoulder hump, and the black bear does not.
Defining Characteristics Of Grizzly & Black Bears
Graphic courtesy of IGBC
Why You Need To Understand The Difference
Grizzly and black bears often respond differently when encountering a human – but not always!
