Can Black Bears Be Brown In Color

Black bears come in more colors than any other North American mammal. They can be black, brown, cinnamon, blond, blue-gray, or white. Glacier Bear with cubs East of the Great Plains, nearly all are black.

These were the first bears early settlers saw, hence the name. The melanin in black fur makes the fur resistant to abrasion in the brushy understory of eastern forests. In forested states.

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As their name suggests, many American black bears have black fur-but not all of them do. These mammals actually come in a range of hues, from sandy blonde to rusty copper to bluish. Distinguishing black bears from brown bears, such as grizzlies, requires focusing on physical characteristics beyond fur color, as both species can exhibit similar shades.

One of the most reliable features is the presence of a shoulder hump. Brown bears possess a prominent muscular hump between their shoulders, which is absent in black bears. Scientists have wondered why there is this diversity in coat color among black bears.

Why are some black bears actually brown? • Earth.com

Some have hypothesized that the cinnamon coat is a way of mimicking the generally larger grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), which is brown (but can also be black!) This may provide some form of camouflage or defense for the American black bears. Black bears outnumber their brownish-colored grizzly bear cousins in Yellowstone National Park. In coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest, "brown bear," refers to grizzly bear.

Brown bears, however, are not all grizzly bears. Confused yet? Although one would naturally assume that American black bears (Ursus americanus) are, like, uh black, they actually come in a variety of colors. The most common colors of bears are black, brown, and white.

Why Some Black Bears Are Brown

What many people do not know is that bears can also come in a myriad of color variation. While it is true that each bear species may have a distinct fur color, bears can actually grow hair similar to humans. Some bears are even arguably blue in color.

Among all bears, the most diverse in coloration is the American Black Bear. Black bears can be black, brown, blonde, even blue/gray -- as is the case of the rare color phase found in Southeast Alaska called the glacier bear. Black bears normally weigh up to 300 pounds, occasionally up to as much as 600 pounds.

Black bears can be identified by their "roman nose" facial profile, flat upper back, and short curved claws. As the summer wears on, their brown fur can become bleached by the sun and take on a blonde coloring. Since grasses in the open meadows are a mixture of greens and browns, lighter fur helps the Black Bear blend in and hide from big predators like the Grizzly Bear.

Rare Colors There are even rarer color phases. It's a common question: why are some black bears brown? Despite their name, American black bears (Ursus americanus) can come in a range of colors, including chocolate brown, cinnamon, blonde, and even blue. The coat of a Black Bear is shaggy and usually black but it can also be dark brown, cinnamon, yellow-brown, grey-blue and white depending on location.

A white chest patch is uncommon in most populations. Eyes are brown (blue at birth). Skin is light gray.

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