Identify Species

[nekred]

Tough call, agree it is a bear.

Grizzlies tend to have rounded teddy bear ears, black pointier dog-like ears...

This is all tendencies and indications... I have looked at the probabilities and have decided itprobably is a grizzly based on the few identifying features...

Hump: maybe present, or is camera angle, but regardless of camera angl can see backbone all the way along bear but not head easily...probable hump

Grizzled hair: Lighting, rubbed out orindication of grizzly

Ear: more rounded than pointed probability is grizzly

It is also probable that this is a black bear.

To mee it is a 60/40 probability of being a grizzly.

I have also seen pictures of black bears with a hump because they werestanding on a leg with one front paw, and I have seen "bush" grizzlies with very little hump because they don't dig a lot....

Last year I had a grizzly come into a bait where there are not supposed to be grizzlies either and it definitely was a grizzly, all the indications were there including the concave facial features, and the facial whorl.

Difficult in this picture... but still going with young grizzly, based on indications I see.

Of course Oy am just a dumb ol' redneck without an axe to grind and not a weel respected outdoor personality...

Hope we get a better picture from a better angle. I can see why the OP was wondering... I hope the answer is on page 46!....

Another vital poece of info is where picture was taken... if in Sask, I would change my call!...

I must admit the ear thing is a new one on me so I went back and looked through a bunch of pictures and I just don't see the pointy ear thing in all black bears. Maybe some but lots seem pretty round too. Am I missing something?

[nekred]

Grizzlies tend to have less prominent rounder ears than blacks.

As I was looking back at the pictures I also noticed that the ear is low meaning bear either has head way down or shoulders are high. ie. hump...


http://www.centerforwildlifeinformat...rizzly_id.html

Originally Posted by nekred

Grizzlies tend to have less prominent rounder ears than blacks.

As I was looking back at the pictures I also noticed that the ear is low meaning bear either has head way down or shoulders are high. ie. hump...


http://www.centerforwildlifeinformat...rizzly_id.html

Not overly definitive....the ears "may" be.

[BigJon]

I have seen a grizz that was dang close to black one time. And I have also seen a blonde/cinammon black bear that had it's head down slurping up oats once. The position the blondie was in really accentuated it's shoulder hump, making me think I was looking at a grizz at first.

I am leaning to black bear in this photo but I am not 100% certain.

[ruttnbuckcojack]

Black Bear all the way, Ears, hind quarters, shoulders, and there is NO hump

[bdub]

I would think the hump would be more pronounced if it was a grizz. I like these games.

[albertadeer]

Though its very hard to tell im willing to bet cash that this is a young grizzly. It just has the look, If a black was that size it would be thicker and walk different. The color is grizzled, it changes in the different light in the 3 photos. Still has some winter hair on the hump, dark on the bottom light on the top.

Yup, its a man killer......

[bigbuck19]

At first glance I thought grizzly, but it doesn't really look like he has a hump... Now I'm thinking this could really go either way. Kind of looks like a large head on him.

[Big Daddy Badger]

If it was shot in Alberta...it can't be a grizzly...there aren't any...

I'm leaning to small young grizzly.
I wouldn't put money on that though.

[KegRiver]

I've seen a lot of bear over the years. One thing I've noticed, there is almost as much variation in color and appearance among Grizzlies as there is among Blacks.

Frankly I doubt that the best Bear expert in the world could identify the species from those photos.

[Aussiehunter]

Originally Posted by nekred

Grizzlies tend to have less prominent rounder ears than blacks.

As I was looking back at the pictures I also noticed that the ear is low meaning bear either has head way down or shoulders are high. ie. hump...


http://www.centerforwildlifeinformat...rizzly_id.html

Thanks that's a great link! My initial thoughts were immediately grizzly but as most of the threads on here its very hard to tell 100%.

[duffy4]

I "think" it is probably a black bear. But I would not consider shooting this bear before I had a positive ID.

And I think that anyone who says "black bear all the way" or "most definitely a grizzly" are stepping out on a thin limb. These pictures are not good angles for positive identification.


Anyone who is basing their opinion just on colour had better quite bear hunting, there can be so much variation in each kind of bear.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by duffy4

I "think" it is probably a black bear. But I would not consider shooting this bear before I had a positive ID.

And I think that anyone who says "black bear all the way" or "most definitely a grizzly" are stepping out on a thin limb. These pictures are not good angles for positive identification.


Anyone who is basing their opinion just on colour had better quite bear hunting, there can be so much variation in each kind of bear.

Was trying to find that Montana state quizz on identifying bears, but it seems to be gone. Was really good and made the point it's easy to confuse them under field circumstances.

Grizz

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Was trying to find that Montana state quizz on identifying bears, but it seems to be gone. Was really good and made the point it's easy to confuse them under field circumstances.

Grizz

It seemed pretty simple to me......

[duffy4]

The black bear/polar bear identification quiz was pretty easy.

You might say it was "black and white".

[Lonedrake]

Is this what you were looking for? Just took it and thought it was pretty easy. 100%

http://fwpiis.mt.gov/bearid/test.htm

[RockyMountainMusic]

Glacier Bear

[MartyM]

Can you go out and get some better pic's of the bear in question and settle this debate?

If I counted this right the votes are:

Black: 12
Grizz: 15

And 1 glacier bear

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by duffy4

The black bear/polar bear identification quiz was pretty easy.

You might say it was "black and white".

Sometimes you need to CSI it!!!!!

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CBYQ9QEwAQ

This was first of 2 that are known

[Matt L.]

My first tentative thought is grizz, but I'm goin to say 60/40 grizz/black.

[Speckle55]

easy its a Grizz

will post a grizz pictures with cub on June 17 hy-way 40 south Cadomin road

David

[Aussiehunter]

Originally Posted by MartyM

Can you go out and get some better pic's of the bear in question and settle this debate?

If I counted this right the votes are:

Black: 12
Grizz: 15

And 1 glacier bear

The cams are back up so Im hoping so, although the family's property that its on are not.. If I do catch him again Ill for sure post!!

[Aussiehunter]

Originally Posted by Lonedrake

Is this what you were looking for? Just took it and thought it was pretty easy. 100%

http://fwpiis.mt.gov/bearid/test.htm

Great resource.. I'm sticking with my original gut feeling Griz 100%

[brownbomber]

great pic, tough angle to call on the species. flip a coin. both sides of the debate have their reasonable explanations.