Like most people, when it comes to distinguishing between bear types, I was pretty confused about the difference between brown bears and Grizzlies. It is easy to get confused due to the fact that  brown and black bears can have brown or black fur. So I did a little digging to clear this up for everyone.

The scientific name for the brown bear is Ursus arctos. In North America, there is a lot of confusion about the differences between brown bears, grizzlies and Kodiak bears. They are all Ursus arctos, but there are 2 recognized subspecies: the Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) and the Kodiak brown bear (Ursus arctos middendorfi)
In general the coastal bears are brown bears, the interior bears are grizzlies and the Kodiaks live only on Kodiak Island. Coloration varies greatly, from black to the famous blondes of Denali Park.

How to tell a Grizzly From a Black Bear

Grizzly Bear

Grizzly bears are generally larger than Black bears. On all fours the Grizzle is 3.28 feet tall but they can stand and be 6.5 feet tall. Their scruffy fur, rounded ears, big claws (that are usually visible in their tracks) and shoulder humps are their main identifying features. That shoulder hump is actual extra muscle that the Grizzly needs to dig for roots, tubers and ground squirrels. The shoulder muscles and 2-4 inch long claws are also used to demonstrate that the Grizzly is a BAMF that is not to be trifled with.

Black Bear

Black bears have smaller claws than Grizzlies. At 1.5 inches long, their claws are not usually visible in their tracks.  Unlike Grizzlies, Black bears have no shoulder hump. They are also shorter than Grizzlies at 2.5-3 feet on all fours, and 5 feet standing erect. They also have pointy ear ears and more angular or “Roman” facial features.

Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls is a grizzly omnivore but not an actual bear. Unlike other bears, Bear Grylls is found all over the world and will eat anything! Identifying features include his urge for constant nudity and excitement for dangerous outdoor activities and a clear British accent.

Little known facts about Bear Grylls

1. In 1998, at age 23, Bear entered The Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest and one of only around 30 British climbers to successfully climb Mt. Everest.
2. During his 3 year service in the SAS, Bear suffered from a free fall parachute accident, breaking his back in 3 places. (And then he became…Robocop…no wait… Universal Soldier)
3. Man vs. Wild is the number one show in America and has a global audience of 1.2 Billion people.
4. In 2007, he became the first man to fly a powered para-glider to a height above Mount Everest in the Himalaya. Sponsored by GKN, the team raised over $1million in the process for Global Angels and children’s charities worldwide. 2008 also saw Bear lead a small team to climb one of the most remote un-climbed peaks in the world in Antarctica.
5. Bear also holds a world record for the highest open air dinner party, from a hot air balloon.