Bears inhabit four of the world’s seven continents and are represented by eight unique species: Asiatic black bears, brown bears, giant pandas, North American black bears, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears, and sun bears. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is home to two of these species: brown bears and North American black bears. While brown bears are native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North America, the North American black bear, as its name suggests, is found exclusively in North America. Since both species can share overlapping habitats, it’s important to understand how to distinguish between them.
Coloration
Many people assume the easiest way to distinguish between brown and black bears is by the fur color—but that can be misleading! When early settlers first arrived on North America’s east coast, they encountered bears with black coats and simply named them “black bears.” However, black bears are incredibly widespread across the continent and have adapted to various habitats, resulting in a surprising range of fur colors. They can appear in shades of brown, blonde, cinnamon, gray, white, ‘blue’, and, of course, black. Brown bears, despite their name, also display a wide variety of coat colors, ranging from almost white or blonde to dark brown and even nearly black. This overlap in coloration means that identifying a bear by color alone isn’t always reliable—so it’s important to look at other features when telling them apart.
Body Features
The most reliable way to tell brown bears and black bears apart is to look for more detailed key identifiers, especially since relying on fur color can be misleading. A clear and safe way to tell these species apart—without getting too close, of course—is by observing their body shape. Brown bears have a prominent hump in between their shoulders, made of dense muscle that helps them dig. Their rump sits lower than their shoulders, giving their back a sloped appearance. In contrast, black bears lack this shoulder hump. Their backs are typically more level or even slope upward, with the rump equal to or higher than the shoulders.
Some more subtle differences include their facial profiles, claws, and paw prints. Brown bears have a concave, dish-shaped facial profile and often sport a noticeable ruff of longer fur beneath their chin. On the other hand, Black bears have a straighter, more even facial profile and generally lack the ruff of fur.
Claws are another distinguishing feature. Brown bears possess long, slightly curved claws—almost like spoons—perfectly adapted for digging. Black bears, however, have shorter, more sharply curved claws, which help them climb trees easily.
Finally, if you come across a paw print, it can offer additional clues. Brown bear tracks tend to show toes that are close together and aligned in a relatively straight line. The long claws leave impressions farther from the toe pads. Black bear prints, by comparison, reveal more spaced-out toes with a slight arc, and the shorter claws leave marks much closer to the toe pads.
By understanding these differences between brown bears and the North American black bear, we gain a deeper appreciation for the unique adaptations of each species. So the next time you spot a bear from a safe distance, you’ll be better equipped to understand who might be watching you back.
