Grizzly Bear Biology: What's Under All That Fur?

Physical Appearance      Paws, Claws & Tracks      Size      Skulls & Humps      Bear Senses        Bear Abilities        Life Cycle

Source: BC Gov

Grizzly Bear Skulls & Snouts

•  The skulls of Black Bears and Grizzly Bears are shaped quite differently 

  • The face of a Black Bear slopes downward gently into the muzzle 

  • The grizzly bear’s snout is quite different 

  • Grizzlies have a dish-shaped or "concave" face 

  • While a Black Bear has a broad straight face with a long snout 

Check this comparison of  Facial Profile of Grizzlies and Black Bears 

Check out this Grizzly Bear skull and this Grizzly skull too! 

Reproduced With Permission of  Min. Public Works& Gov. Services Canada, 2003

Source: Bear Aware

Grizzly Bear Shoulders & Humps 

The backs of Grizzly Bears and Black Bears are quite different:  Grizzlies have a very prominent shoulder hump over their shoulders  — this hump is made of fat and muscle and  helps the grizzlies dig  and use their paws to strike  Black Bears do not have a noticeable shoulder hump

Compare the Shoulders an Humps of a Grizzly with those of a Black Bear 

Do You Know Your Bears?

You can't tell bears apart by just their colour, you know:  A Grizzly is often called a Brown Bear and Black Bears  come in a variety of colours, including brown  Grizzlies are usually larger than black bears...  and there are a few other noticeable differences too!

Check out a Comparison of Grizzly & Black Bears 

Source:  Bears In BC - Hinterland - BC Government - Grizzly Bears In BC

Can You Tell Them Apart ... from their skulls and snouts or their shoulders and humps?

Take the Bear ID Test

Here, take this cool quiz about how to tell Black Bears & Grizzlies apart

Take the Griz Quiz

Grizzly Bear Index

Grizzly Bear Introduction
What Colour Are They?
What's Under All That Fur?
Grizzly Bears In Action
Grizzly Bear Activities
To Black Bears ...