American Black Bear vs Grizzly Bear
Which bear is on the trail - and why it changes everything
The quick tell
Ignore color - black bears run blond to black, and grizzlies vary too. Read the silhouette: a grizzly has a pronounced muscle hump over the shoulders, a dished face, and short rounded ears. A black bear’s highest point is its rump, its profile runs straight from forehead to nose, and its ears are tall and prominent.
Field marks, side by side
| American Black Bear | Grizzly Bear | |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder | No hump; rump rides higher than shoulders | Distinct muscular hump is the highest point |
| Face | Straight "Roman" profile | Dished, concave profile |
| Ears | Tall, oval, prominent | Short and rounded |
| Front claws | Dark, ~1.5 in, curved for climbing | Pale, 2-4 in, built for digging |
Still not sure which one you found?
Point Huck at it. One photo identifies it on the spot - and adds it to your collection.
Get Huck - freeCommon questions
Where do grizzlies actually live in the lower 48?
Only the Northern Rockies and North Cascades: greater Yellowstone, western Montana, northern Idaho, and a sliver of Washington. Everywhere else in the lower 48 - every eastern state, the entire Southwest, California - a bear is a black bear, whatever its color.
A "brown" bear raided my bird feeder - grizzly?
Almost certainly a brown-phase black bear unless you are in the Northern Rockies. Cinnamon and chocolate coats are common in western black bears. Check the shoulder line in your photo: rump-high means black bear.