Montana is "Bear Country".
Montana is designated as America's “Treasure State”. Montana boasts many natural riches from Glacier National Park in the North, to our abundant wildlife like grizzly and black bears, deer, elk, antelope, moose, wolves, and buffalo that roam throughout our State. This is a good opertunity for you to learn a few interesting things about some of our Montana bears, mainly the Grizzly and the Black Bear.
In the northwest, grizzlies are mostly limited to the Yellowstone and Glacier National Park areas of Montana and western Wyoming. Black bears monopolize the rest of the North American forests and many of the swamps. Below you will find interesting 'bear facts' and characteristics about the bears of Montana.
Grizzly Bear
Key Features
of the Grizzly Bear:
- Ears rounded, not prominent
- Claws of front feet are long. 2-3 inches ahead of toes.
- Pronounced shoulder hump
- Broad dished face.
- Shoulders are high point of profile
- Fur is often silver tipped
- Larger than black bears- 200 to 1100 pounds
- Front foot print 5.5 inches wide
- Color varies from brown to black
- Omnivorous - meaning they eat both plants and meat
- Cubs stay with their mom 2.5 to 4.5 years after birth
- Typically hibernate for 1/2 the year
- Considered an endangered species
Black Bear
Key features
of the Black Bear:
- Ears pointed and prominent
- Claws of front feet are short
- No shoulder hump
- Roman nose- no dished face
- Back hips are high point of profile
- Smallest of the three bear species found in North America - 100 to 440 pounds
- Front foot print 3.75 inches wide
- Color varies from black to blond
- Can live 20 to 25 years in the wild
- Omnivorous - meaning they eat both plants and meat
- Cubs stay with their mom 1 to 1.5 years after birth
- Do not go into deep hibernation during the winter, but do remain dormant
- Documented at running speeds up to 30 mph
- Most abundant bear in the world
- Excellent tree climbers
