Animal sign
Bear tracks: how to read a black bear or grizzly print
A bear print is hard to mistake: wide, with five toes and a back foot that looks almost human. Fresh bear tracks are a reason to change your plans, not just a photo to take.
How to tell it
- Five toes on every foot, in an arc above a wide pad.
- Hind print long, 6 to 9 inches for a black bear, shaped like a wide, flat-footed human foot.
- Front print shorter and wider, often showing only the broad pad and the toes.
- Claw marks may show as dots in front of the toes. Long claw marks far ahead of the toes point to a grizzly.
Where you find it
Black bears live in about 40 states, in forests, swamps and mountains. Grizzlies live in parts of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Alaska.
Scientific name: Ursus americanus and U. arctos
Look-alikes
A bare human foot has a narrow heel, an arch, and a big toe much larger than the others. Bear toes are similar in size.
Also five toes and hand-like, but only 2 to 4 inches long.
Grizzly toes sit in a nearly straight line with long claw marks. A black bear’s toes curve in an arc with short claws.
What it tells you
Sharp-edged prints in mud or snow mean a bear walked there recently. Many prints, scat and torn logs or stumps mean a bear is using the area. It is the time to make noise, keep children and dogs close, and store food properly.
What to do
- Do not follow fresh tracks. Turn back or choose another trail if the sign is very fresh.
- Talk or call out on blind corners so a bear hears you coming.
- Keep food, trash and scented items in bear-proof containers or as local rules say.
- If you see a bear, stay calm, do not run, and back away slowly while facing it. Carry bear spray where rangers advise it.
The free app reads your photo, names the likely match, shows its look-alikes, and tells you what has been seen near your ZIP code.
Sources
Written in our own words from these public sources.