Can a black bear have brown fur?

And to complicate matters just a bit more, black bears, despite their name, are not always black. They can also be brown, cinnamon, blond, or a combination of light and dark hair.

Why do black bears turn brown?

In the Eastern United States, the black bear is often black. When you travel into the Western United States, their colors turn to a more brown of cinnamon color. The reason for the color difference is the habitat. As the summer wears on, their brown fur can become bleached by the sun and take on a blonde coloring.

Are black bears dark brown?

Black bear is a species, Ursus americanus, not a color. In the eastern third of North America, the majority of black bears are a deep black color, and about a quarter of them sport a white chest blaze. The further west you go, the more likely it is you could see brown, cinnamon, tan or blonde black bears.

Do black bears change color?

Black bears can change colors throughout their lives. Most commonly, young bears in brown or cinnamon phases will get darker (black) as they reach adulthood. Bears also molt in summertime, changing the appearance of their fur to a lighter sheen. As the season cools, the full coat returns in its natural color.

Can a black bear have a brown cub?

Most black bears are, in fact, black but often a black colored bear will have brown cubs and brown colored bears may have black cubs.

What is the difference between black bear and brown bear?

Compared to black bears (Ursus americanus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) usually are larger, have a more prominent shoulder hump, shorter fuzzier ears, and longer, straighter claws. Black bear claws are shorter and more curved for climbing trees and tearing apart stumps and logs in their forest habitat.

Can a bear be blue?

In some regions, black bears are more commonly various shades of brown. But a black bear can even be red, white or blue. Unusually colored bears have long been the subject of legend and folklore.

Do black bears shed their fur?

Bears molt every year during the spring and summer. During the late fall, just prior to denning, bear hides are close to their peak density. In many parts of the bear range, bruins taken in the early fall may only have two-to-three inches fur.

How can you tell the difference between a brown bear and a black bear?

Black bears occur in many hues of brown, and even shades of blue and white. Brown bears range from dark brown through light blond. Compared to black bears (Ursus americanus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) usually are larger, have a more prominent shoulder hump, shorter fuzzier ears, and longer, straighter claws.

Why do brown bears have fur?

Brown bears have long, intimidating claws. These bears are incredibly strong, able to break the necks of many large prey with one powerful blow. Their thick fur and layer of fat help to insulate them against the extreme cold temperatures of their habitat.

What is a blonde bear?

Blonde bears frequently have darker legs, he said, and color variations are often regional. “In the Interior, the Brooks Range, Nome, light-colored blondish bears are pretty common,” he said. Southeast Alaska also has light colored bears on some islands and not others.