How can you distinguish between black bear and grizzly bear tracks?

To distinguish between black bear and grizzly bear tracks, drawing a straight line across the top of the front paw pad is a reliable method. When observing the tracks, a grizzly bear's front paw pad is generally more elongated and has a distinct shape. If you draw a line across the top of the front paw pad, it will not bisect the pad evenly in a grizzly bear; it often intersects further back due to the oval shape of the pad. In contrast, a black bear's front paw pad tends to be more rounded, with a line drawn across it typically passing through the center.

This method provides a visual reference that is particularly effective in identifying the species of bear based on the shape of their tracks. While measuring the paw size can give clues, this measurement can vary significantly between individual bears. Observing the color of the tracks may not be reliable due to environmental conditions affecting track appearance, and the shape of the claws is not always visible in tracks, especially if the ground is hard or compacted. Therefore, drawing a line across the paw pad offers a clear and practical way to differentiate between these two types of bears.