Black Bear vs. Grizzly Bear Attacks: Surviving By Being Educated

Black bears are smaller than grizzly bears, and although they are of the same specie of animal, they are a different variety and have differences in behaviors as well. Because of the difference in their natures, you should know a little about the cause and response to black bear and grizzly bear attacks.

Both bears are predatory as well as vegetation eaters, but humans are not generally on the list of menu items for grizzly bears while a black bear may see the human meat as a potential meal. While attacks are uncommon, bears can and do attack humans so it is important to know what to do should you be attacked. There are two types of attack you may encounter by a bear, the predatory attack or the surprise attack. The surprise attack occurs when hikers not paying attention and are walking into the wind may walk within 10 - 20 feet of a grizzly bear unnoticed.

This startles the grizzly bear which then attacks out of response to a possible threat. In this type of attack you should lay down and play dead, this enforces to the grizzly that you are not a threat and will most often walk away once the perceived threat is gone. You should remain laying there until the bear has left the area. The predatory attack on the other hand is generally known to occur by a black bear and is it's natural method of hunting food. In other words, if you are being stalked by a black bear then you are likely a mental photo of his menu for the evening. If you are attacked by a black bear, the recommended response is just the opposite that of a grizzly attack, and you should fight back as if your life depends on it. Using a stick, rocks, fists and fingers, fight with all your might. Most predatory animals, although they typically exert themselves in the process of killing their prey, they prefer not to have to fight for their food and if you put up a strong enough fight, again they will likely leave you alone.

Distinction between the two bears is difficult, but when it comes to black bear vs grizzly bear attacks then identification is important in understanding the attack. Both grizzly and black bears can be black, brown, blond, or even albino, and many are called Cinnamon by their variety of brown shades. Grizzly bears have a shoulder hump that Black Bears lack, black bears have a straight profile from forehead to tip of nose where grizzly bears have a dip from the forehead to the nose. Grizzly bears also have smaller rounded ears and Black bears have larger pointed ears.

Black bears have a wider range, they are in the southern Rockies, in the southern and northern wooded areas as well as into some areas where polar bears exist. Before you go hiking in the wilderness where black bear and grizzly bear territories cross, you should familiarize yourself with the identification of the different types of bears as well as to train yourself to be alert to what is around you. Most grizzly bear attacks occur when hikers walk within a few yards of grizzles unaware of their presence in the area. one important resource with pictures is here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/wildlife/igbc/cwi/blackbear.htm