Is that a grizzly bear? FROM: Crowsnest Conservation BearSmart More often than not, identifying a bear species correctly in the wild is a difficult task. Factors such as distance, concealing vegetation, the time of day and direction of sun, or a bear on the move, can make the task even more challenging. In Alberta, we have are two species of bears, the black bear (Ursus americanus) and the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilus). Both size and colour can be confusing and unreliable features to identify bear species. A large black bear can be bigger than a small grizzly bear and the colour of bears, especially black bears, can vary considerably. Black bears range in colour from coal black, brown, cinnamon, blonde, and even white (Kermode Bear on the West Coast). A grizzly bear’s fur colour could vary from black to blonde. The name grizzly comes from its “grizzled” or silver-tipped fur. However, not all grizzlies have silver-tipped fur and those that do might not have it at all times of the year. To properly identify a bear, remember these helpful tips: • Black bears have a snout or more of a dog-face shape, compared to the dish-shaped face of a grizzly bear. • Black bears have prominent ears and grizzly ears are small and round. • Grizzly bears have a hump between their shoulders. • The front claws of black bears are short and dark-coloured and grizzly claws are long and light-coloured. • When standing on even ground, a black bear’s body is highest at the rump and a grizzly’s body is the highest at the shoulder hump. Ready to test your skills? The Government of Alberta has a great online bear identification tutorial and a bear quiz. Visit: srd.alberta.ca/RecreationPublicUse/AlbertaBearSmart/KnowYourBears/BearIdentificationQuiz.aspx
Posted on: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:33:08 +0000
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