Head to head
Brown Bear vs American Black Bear
The grizzly is the North American form of the brown bear; the American black bear is a separate, smaller, more widespread species. Across much of western North America the two overlap, and telling them apart — colour is not reliable — can matter, because the safe response to an encounter is different.
| Brown Bear | American Black Bear | |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Ursus arctos (brown bear) | Ursus americanus |
| Weight | 130–360 kg (inland), much more on salmon coasts | 40–250 kg |
| Shoulder hump | Prominent muscular hump | No hump; highest point is the rump |
| Face profile | Concave, "dished" | Straight, "Roman" nose |
| Front claws | 5–10 cm, straight, pale, for digging | 3–4 cm, curved, dark, for climbing |
| Climbing | Adults climb poorly | Agile climber at any age |
| Range | Western Canada, Alaska, NW US; wide in Eurasia | Most forested regions of North America |
| Conservation status | Least Concern globally; protected in lower 48 US | Least Concern |
Grizzly Bear vs Black Bear: common questions
Can you tell a grizzly from a black bear by colour?
No. Black bears range from black through cinnamon, brown, and blond, and grizzlies range from near-black to pale straw. Use the shoulder hump, the face profile, the claw length, and the ear shape (black bears have taller, more pointed ears) instead.
Is a grizzly bear just a big black bear?
No, they are different species. The grizzly is a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos), which also includes the huge coastal brown bears and the Eurasian brown bear. The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a separate species that split from the brown/polar bear line millions of years ago.
Should you react differently to a grizzly and a black bear attack?
Standard guidance is: for a defensive grizzly attack (surprised bear, mother with cubs) play dead once contact is imminent; for any black bear attack, or a predatory bear of either species that is stalking you, fight back hard, aiming for the face. Bear spray is the recommended first line of defence for both.