Grizzly Bear Identification

[Shutterbug]

A couple of days ago I posted a picture of the bear I saw on Mt. Rainier. I said that it has to be a black bear because there are no grizzly bears in Mt. Rainier National Park. Since then, I have studied the picture some more. Several of my friends who have lived in grizzly country tell me it is a grizzly bear. Before you can get a black bear permit in Montana, you have to pass a test to be able to tell the difference between a grizzly and a black bear. The tests are: Does it have a hump? Is the face concave? Are the ears small? Are the claws long? And, do the bears tracks look a certain way? Applying the tests to the bear I saw: Yes, it has a hump. Yes, it's face is concave. No, the ears don't look small. I couldn't see the claws or tracks. What do you think?

[Spirit Walker]

There are grizzlies in the Cascades. You're right, it does look like it has a hump and concave nose. The ears seem a bit large - more black bearish - but the hump makes it likely it's a grizzly.

[KelBel]

When I first saw the picture, I thought it looked like a Grizzly. Here is a good website telling the differences.

http://westernwildlife.org/grizzly-bear-outreach-project/bear-identification/

[moytoy]

http://tkogut.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v23/p922713126-3.jpg
I googled mt rainier black bear and this is what I got. Not all Black Bears look like our eastern Black Bear. I think it's a Black Bear.

[moytoy]

Here is another image that is labeled BB
http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get2/I00006DbpuEHk14o/fit=1000x750/black-bear-cub-EdBook6154.jpg

[BCPete]

I see a lot of both, and photograph a lot of both. This one is a black bear for sure.



(BTW ... I did ace that Montana online test).

[Shutterbug]

I got a reply from the grizzly expert at the University of Montana. This one is a black bear.

[coach lou]

I see a lot of both, and photograph a lot of both. This one is a black bear for sure.



(BTW ... I did ace that Montana online test).


Me to, and I'm a Flatlander Yankee