wildlife wednesday — Grizzly and black bears

By Andy Ames

100 years ago both Grizzly and Black bears roamed the Estes Valley. In fact, Grizzly bears could be found throughout Colorado and even well into the western plains states and south into Mexico. Now Grizzlies are relegated to the Northern Rocky states and Canada. While these two bear species share many characteristics, there are several key differences. Grizzly bears tend to be much larger than black bears — about twice the size for any given age. Grizzlies have a pronounced shoulder hump and long, gently curved claws. This is instrumental in their ability for short bursts of speed and for digging out roots and small mammals. Black bears have a flatter back or more powerful rear end and shorter, more curved claws — both good for climbing trees and tearing apart logs and stumps. Facially, Grizzly bears have a more concave or dished face, smaller ears and more deep set eyes compared to their Black bear cousins. Surprisingly, despite their names, color can be the least reliable characteristic. Grizzly refers to the sometimes white-tipped outer hairs of the bear. Grizzlies are sometimes referred to as Brown bears but can be almost black to dark brown, light brown, or tan. Black bears can be black, blonde, cinnamon, or (most commonly in Colorado) brown.

Despite these differences, Black bears and Grizzly bears can often be challenging to tell apart, especially if without context or seeing the whole animal. Have fun with the challenge from Bear Smart Durango. BearSmartDurango FB Quiz