Bears are one of North America’s most iconic wild animals, and one of the most important to understand if you spend time outdoors. From national parks to remote backcountry trails, black bears and grizzlies are powerful, intelligent animals that deserve our respect and thoughtful coexistence. After all, we are in their homes.
Whether you’re heading out for a weekend hike or a multi-day backpacking trip, traveling responsibly in bear country is essential. This page delves into what makes these animals unique, how to avoid risky encounters, and how to protect yourself and the bears you share the trail with.
Bears in North America
Meet The Bears
Black bears and grizzly bears are the two main species found in North America, but don’t let color be your only clue. Learn how to spot the differences in the wild, including their unique physical traits, tracks, behavior, and appropriate safety tactics for each.
Black Bears
Ursus americanus
Black bears come in many colors—including black, brown, blonde, white, cinnamon, and blue-grey, which can make their name misleading. According to the U.S. National Park Service, unless you’re in Western Canada or states northwest of Wyoming, the bear you encounter is most likely a black bear.
Native to North America, black bears are the continent’s most widespread bear species, with an estimated population of around 600,000. They inhabit diverse ecosystems ranging from forests and coastal beaches to alpine regions across the United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico.
Check out these key black bear traits. Click the image below to expand and learn more.
Shoulder Shape
Black bears have a level or flat back without the distinctive shoulder hump seen in grizzlies.
Body Shape
Their rump is higher than their front shoulders, giving a distinct back profile compared to brown bears.
Face Profile
Black bears have a straight face profile from between the eyes to the tip of the muzzle.
Ears
Their ears are taller, oval-shaped, and more prominent compared to grizzlies.
Claws & Toes
Front claws are less than 2 inches long and curved. Their toes are separated and fairly arched. In tracks, a line drawn under the big toe across the pad runs through the top half of the little toe. Claw marks don’t always appear in black bear tracks.
Black Bear Behavior
Black Bear Temperament
Black bears are naturally curious and typically avoid conflict. These bears evolved in forest environments where they climbed high into trees or deep into the forest. So compared to grizzlies, they are less assertive and more likely to flee, even when caring for cubs.
Black Bear Cubs
Black bears mate in early summer, but fertilized eggs remain dormant until the mama bear hibernates. Cubs are born in winter and den with their mother for the first winter before separating at around 1.5 years old. Mama bears are most protective when they have cubs with them.
Litters of 2-3 cubs are normal.
Black Bears Use Trails
Just because you see a bear on a trail doesn’t mean that it is following you. Bears use trails because they are easy and well-worn paths to get where they need to go!
Tips for When You Spot Black Bears
If you see a bear, take a deep breath and enjoy the magical moment.
Black bears are often most active at dawn and dusk, but can be active at all times of day and night. Edges of meadows and near streams can also be prime spots for spotting a bear.
NEVER feed or bait a bear, approach a dead animal carcass, or investigate a possible bear den.
A great rule of thumb is to fully extend your arm. If you cannot fully cover the bear with your thumb, you are too close. Never get closer to get a better photograph. Read our bear safety page for more information on encounters with bears.
Black Bear Key Facts
Shoulder height: 20-40in (50-100cm)
Average Adult Weight Males: 132-309lbs (60-140kg)
Average Adult Weight Females: 88-154lbs (40-70kg)
Lifespan: Up to 30 years in the wild.
What Black Bears Eat
Black Bears Are Omnivores
Despite their claws and teeth, black bears eat a wide variety of foods. They forage for both plant-based and animal-based nutrition, depending on what’s available in their habitat.
Natural Foods in the Wild
A black bear’s natural diet includes grasses, roots, leaves, berries, fruits, nuts, insects, larvae, honey, fish, and small mammals. They’ll also scavenge carcasses left by other predators and occasionally prey on young deer or moose calves. Black bear diets vary widely based on where they live, the season, and food availability.
Human Food Is a Major Attraction
Black bears are opportunistic and will return to areas where they’ve previously found food. Human food is high in calories, making snacks, trash, or even pet food left unsecured an irresistible target.
They’ll Eat Almost Anything That Smells Like Food
Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell. They may consume plastic, wrappers, packaging, or even glass; anything that carries the scent of food can be mistaken for a meal.
Grizzly Bears
Ursus arctos
Grizzly bears are generally larger and less varied in color than black bears. While black bears are found across most of North America, grizzlies primarily inhabit the northern Rockies, Alaska, and parts of western Canada.
While not all brown bears are grizzly bears, all grizzly bears are brown bears. Some coastal bears in Alaska and Canada are typically called brown bears and are considered a separate subspecies. The main difference lies in their geographic location, which influences their diet, size, and behavior.
The total population of brown bears in North America is estimated at approximately 61,000.
Shoulder Hump
Grizzlies have a distinctive muscular shoulder hump that sets them apart from black bears.
Body Shape
Their rump sits lower than the shoulder hump, giving a sloped back profile.
Face Profile
Grizzly bears have a dished or concave face profile extending from between their eyes to the tip of their snout.
Ears
Their ears are short and rounded, unlike the taller ears of black bears.
Claws & Toes
Front claws are slightly curved and range from 2 to 4 inches long, depending on digging behavior. Their toes are close together, forming a fairly straight line. In tracks, a line drawn under the big toe usually passes through or below the bottom half of the little toe. Claw marks often show clearly in grizzly tracks.
Size
Grizzlies are larger than black bears, standing 3 to 5 feet tall at the shoulder when on all fours and weighing between 800 and 1,600 pounds, depending on gender and region.
Grizzly Behavior
Grizzly Bear Temperament
Grizzly bears are naturally bold and protective. Having evolved in open landscapes such as prairies and tundra, where trees were scarce, they couldn't simply climb away from danger. Instead, they adapted to stand their ground with confidence. This makes them more assertive than black bears, especially dedicated mothers who prioritize defending their cubs in the wide-open wild.
Grizzly Bear Cubs
After mating in early summer, "delayed implantation" ensures embryos only develop once the mother is safely hibernating. Born in the winter den, cubs stay with their mothers for two to three years. Providing several years to learn the ways of the wild.
A typical grizzly litter consists of 1-3 cubs.
How Do Grizzly Bears Communicate?
Through vocalizations, ear and mouth movements, body posture, and paw gestures, bears can communicate a range of emotions to one another. This can also help determine how to respond to an aggressive bear.
Grizzly Bear Range
Historically, grizzly bears roamed from the Pacific to the Mississippi and down into Mexico.
Today, that range looks quite different, occupying only about 2% of their historical range in the lower 48 states. Grizzly bear conservation, connectivity, and reintroduction efforts have worked to slowly recover the population in the lower 48.
What About Grizzly Bears Standing on Hind Legs?
Bears are curious! They will stand on their hind legs to see an object better, follow air currents to find the source of smells, investigate sounds, and search around their habitat for items to play with, like branches, rocks, and more. This is not a sign of aggression.
Grizzly Bear Key Facts
Average Shoulder height: 42 inches (106cm)
Average Adult Weight: 203-787lbs (92-357kg)
Lifespan: Up to 37 years in the wild.
What Grizzly Bears Eat
Omnivorous Diet
Grizzly bears are omnivores at the top of the food chain, with humans as their only natural predators. They prefer to conserve energy by targeting easier prey and foraging for plants.
Preferred Foods
They commonly eat moths, pine nuts, whitebark pine seeds, insects, fish such as salmon and trout, deer and other ungulates, mostly weak or young animals.
Grizzly bear diets vary widely based on where they live, the season, and food availability.
Coastal vs. Inland Diets
Bears adapt to the foods in their local habitat. Coastal bears use fast reflexes and claws to catch fish like salmon. Inland bears utilize their long, curved claws and powerful shoulder muscles to help them dig for food effectively.
How Bears Sense the World Around Them
Bears rely on their senses to navigate the wild, find food, and stay safe. Their powerful noses lead the way — a bear’s sense of smell is among the most acute in the animal kingdom.
But it’s not just their noses. Bears also use their keen hearing and sharp eyesight to stay alert. Although their vision isn’t as sharp as humans', they are great at detecting movement and spotting objects in low light.
Bear brains are hardwired to seek and eat food. Biologists call this spatiotemporal memory. This means that bears have a deep understanding of where (spatio) and when (temporal) they have found food before. This memory enables bears to return to the same location at the same time a food source may be found, whether it’s a favorite seasonal berry patch in the forest or a backyard bird feeder that is only hung for a few weeks of the year.
This means that we have a shared responsibility to ensure that bears never access human food. Once a bear finds these foods, it will never forget where and when it found human food. The bear will repeatedly seek human food, becoming bolder and more aggressive. Ultimately, these bears have to be euthanized. Sadly, several thousand bears die each year this way.
Understanding how bears perceive their environment is key to staying safe. For example, strong odors like food, sunscreen, or toiletries can attract curious bears, even if you don’t see them nearby.
Staying Safe in Bear Country
Bear safety starts well before you reach the trailhead. When heading into the backcountry where you will be sharing the trail with bears, you need to understand the basics of bear safety.
| Tip: Don’t gift-wrap dinner for a bear (or a squirrel, raccoon, marmot or mouse). Secure all scented items in a bear-resistant container, or you might wake up with unwanted dinner guests.
A Year in the Life of a Bear
Bears go through dramatic changes throughout the year to survive and thrive in the wild. Their behavior shifts with the seasons — from feasting in late summer to hibernating through winter.
Cubs & Curiosity
Bears emerge from hibernation hungry and cautious. They seek fresh plants, insects, and small animals to regain strength after the long winter.
Roaming Wide & Far
Active and energetic, bears explore wide areas to eat berries, fish, and insects — building fat reserves for the colder months ahead.
Feasting to Fatten Up
The hyperphagia season. Bears eat almost nonstop, bulking up with nuts, roots, and any available food to prepare for hibernation.
Snooze Mode Activated
Bears retreat to dens and enter hibernation, slowing their metabolism and conserving energy until spring arrives.
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
The More You Know: Bears 2.0
Explore More Bear Fun Facts
Think you know bears? These powerful, intelligent animals are more than just a symbol of the wild. From what they eat to how they hibernate, understanding their biology helps us coexist safely and respectfully. Take a deeper dive into learning about our urisne neighbors.
Understanding Grizzly Bears
Grizzlies are one of North America’s most iconic—and misunderstood—wild animals. Learn what sets them apart and where they roam.
—> Grizzly Bear Basics
What Do Black Bears Eat
They may look fierce, but most black bears eat mostly plants, berries, and bugs. Their diet is seasonal—and surprisingly opportunistic.
—> See the Full Menu
Why Bears Bulk Up: Hyperphagia Explained
Before hibernation, bears enter a feeding frenzy called hyperphagia. It's not just about eating more—it’s a survival strategy in overdrive.
—> Read About Hyperphagia
When Do Bears Hibernate
Hibernation isn’t the same for every bear—or every region. Learn what triggers it, how long it lasts, and what it means for hikers.
—> Explore Hibernation PatternsWhat You Pack Matters
Get the #1 trail-tested bear canister to keep your food safe and bears wild.
FAQ
Why Do Bears Become Highly Active in Late Summer and Early Fall?
This is the “hyperphagia” season when bears eat almost nonstop to build fat for winter hibernation. Stay alert around berry patches, nut-rich zones, and riverbanks during this time.
What Are Common Signs of Recent Bear Activity I Should Watch For?
Fresh tracks, scat, claw marks on trees, digging, or overturned logs are all signs that bears may be nearby.
What’s the Difference Between a Curious Bear and an Aggressive One?
A curious bear might stand up, sniff, or slowly move away. An aggressive or defensive bear may huff, paw the ground, or charge. Recognizing these cues helps you react appropriately.
Are Bears More Active at Certain Times of Day?
Yes. They’re most active at dawn, dusk, and night—especially in summer and fall. Plan hikes for daylight hours.
How close is too close when viewing a bear in the wild?
Stay at least 100 yards (≈ 90 m) away. Getting closer can stress the bear or provoke defensive behavior.
How effective are BearVaults at keeping bears out?
Extremely. BearVaults are IGBC/SIBBG certified and nearly impossible for bears to open. Field tests show they outperform other storage methods.