Ursus arctos horribilis
Alaska, western Canada, and small populations in the northern Rockies. Not the bear to assume in the East. Five toes with long claw marks well ahead of the toe dots.
What does a grizzly bear look like?
Shoulder hump, dished face, long front claws. Color alone does not separate it from a brown black bear.
What do grizzly bear tracks look like?
Long claw marks are the field clue. Toes sit more in a straight line than a black bear’s arc.
- Five toes with long claw marks well ahead of the toe dots
- Front pad is broad
- A straight line across the top of the pad often cuts the outer toe
- Shoulder hump and dished face if you see the animal
- Tracks often 8 to 10 inches or more
What does grizzly bear poop look like?
Large piles, often berries, roots, or hair. Larger in diameter than typical black bear scat. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Alaska, western Canada, and small populations in the northern Rockies. Not the bear to assume in the East. Typical places: woods, field. Active spring through fall.
What to do next
- Give a very wide berth
- Carry bear spray where grizzlies live
- Do not approach a carcass
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- American black bear identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
What do grizzly tracks look like?
A wide five-toed print with claw marks far in front of the toes. Often larger than a black bear track.
Where should you not assume a track is a grizzly?
East of the Rockies in the Lower 48, a bear track is a black bear unless you are in a known grizzly area.
How to tell a grizzly bear from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- American black bear. Five toes. Black or brown, rounded ears, no shoulder hump, straight nose.
Grizzly bear field marks
- Five toes with long claw marks well ahead of the toe dots
- Front pad is broad
- A straight line across the top of the pad often cuts the outer toe
- Shoulder hump and dished face if you see the animal
Where the sign shows up
Alaska, western Canada, and small populations in the northern Rockies. Not the bear to assume in the East. Typical places: woods, field. Active spring through fall.
Long claw marks are the field clue. Toes sit more in a straight line than a black bear’s arc. Large piles, often berries, roots, or hair. Larger in diameter than typical black bear scat.
Common questions
What do grizzly tracks look like?
A wide five-toed print with claw marks far in front of the toes. Often larger than a black bear track.
Where should you not assume a track is a grizzly?
East of the Rockies in the Lower 48, a bear track is a black bear unless you are in a known grizzly area.