Caribou-Targhee
NF
1405 Hollipark Dr
Idaho Falls, ID
83401
(208) 524-7500 |
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Know Your Bear
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Grizzly
Bear:
Color
varies from blond to black. Often medium-to dark-brown legs, hump,
and underside with light-tipped (grizzled) fur on head, face, and
upper body
Average weight is 500 pounds for males and 350 for females. Males
may weigh up to 800 pounds.
Height is 3 1/2 - 4 feet at shoulder when on all fours, and 6 -
7 feet when standing upright.
Distinctive shoulder hump is actually muscle mass that enables powerful
diggin.
Rump is lower than shoulder hump.
A dished-in profile between eyes and end of snout helps distinguish
grizzlies from black bears.
Ears are round and proportionately small.
Front claws are 2-4 inches long, slightly curved. Claw marks are
usually visible in tracks.
To
report the sighting of a grizzly bear click here. |
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Black
Bear:
Colors
include black, brown, blond, cinnamon, and rust. The most common
snout color is light brown.
Average weight in the West is 100-300 pounds, with males usually
larger than females. Males may weigh up to 400 or more pounds.
Height is 2 1/2 - 3 feet at the shoulder when standing on all fours
and 5 feet standing upright.
Rump is higher than front shoulders.
Face profile is straight; snout is long.
Ears are tall and pointed.
Front claws are less than 2 inches long and curved. Claw marks are
not ususally visable in tracks. |
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All
of these characteristics can vary with the sex and age of the bear;
for example, young grizzlies' ears may appear larger because they're
still growing. Body position, behavior, and light conditions can also
vary what is seen; for example, a black bear engaged in digging may
appear to have a shoulder hump. Size
is also not a reliable indicator of species. Most peole overestimate
the size of grizzlies. A typical adult female grizzly bear weighs
200-350 pounds and adult males weigh 300-600 pounds. An adult male
black bear can easily weight as much or more than a female grizzly,
and definitely more than a young or sub-adult grizzly of either sex! |
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