The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is often not black, despite its common name. This species exhibits a remarkable range of colors across North America, spanning blonde, cinnamon, deep chocolate brown, and even white. The coat color is highly variable and depends significantly on geographic location. This variation means distinguishing the Black Bear from the Brown Bear based on color alone is unreliable.
Understanding Black Bear Color Phases
The American Black Bear boasts the greatest color diversity of any North American mammal. While black is the most common color phase across the species’ total range, especially in the eastern half of the continent, many other hues exist. These colors include blonde, light brown, cinnamon, and dark chocolate brown.
The cinnamon morph is particularly common in the western United States and Canada. In certain western regions, over half of the black bears may be non-black. Two rare and geographically isolated color phases also exist. The Kermode Bear (Spirit Bear) is white or creamy-white and found in coastal British Columbia. The Glacier Bear, found in southeastern Alaska, exhibits a distinct blue-gray coat color. These lighter colors may provide an advantage in open habitats by reducing heat stress and offering camouflage in exposed areas.
Why They Are Called Black Bears
The name “Black Bear” stems from the fact that the first bears encountered by early European settlers in eastern North America were overwhelmingly black. In the forested states east of the Great Plains, almost all American Black Bears are black. This dominant eastern color phase led to the species being formally named. Across the entire continent, approximately 70% of all individuals are black, solidifying the naming convention.
Color variations are controlled by genetics, specifically a missense alteration in the Tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) gene. This genetic variant, which likely arose about 9,400 years ago, results in decreased pigment production, causing the lighter brown and cinnamon coats. The black coat is rich in melanin, which may offer an advantage in dense eastern forests by making the fur more resistant to abrasion and providing camouflage in the shady understory.
Reliable Ways to Tell Black Bears Apart From Brown Bears
Distinguishing an American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) from a Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), which includes Grizzlies, requires focusing on specific physical features. The most definitive feature is the shoulder profile. Brown bears possess a prominent muscular hump above their shoulders, while black bears lack this hump, having a flat or slightly sloped back.
Another reliable distinction is the shape of the face when viewed in profile. Black bears have a relatively straight facial profile from the forehead to the nose, sometimes described as “dog-like.” Brown bears, in contrast, have a noticeable dish-shaped or concave profile that creates a steeper drop from the forehead to the muzzle. The ears also differ: black bears have longer, more pointed ears that stand erect, while brown bears have shorter, rounder ears that appear to blend into the sides of the head.
Finally, their claws reflect their different lifestyles. Black bears have shorter, more curved claws, which are ideal for climbing trees and tearing apart logs, supporting their forest-dwelling habits. Brown bears have longer, straighter claws, an adaptation for digging roots and excavating burrows in their open habitat. These structural differences are the most certain way to identify the species.