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Why Brown Bears Look Different: A Guide’s Photo Diary


By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage 

The broader public perception of brown bears (Ursus arctos) is that they possess a nice furry coat, which is brown—hence the name—and that individual brown bears generally resemble one another. Some might expect variations, such as blonde fur tips, especially in the grizzly subspecies (Ursus arctos horribilis), but generally, a brown-colored bear is what most anticipate when considering a brown bear. After all, how often do people have the opportunity to compare the coats and features of multiple brown bears side by side?

Bear with me here: brown bears rarely ever look identical. In fact, the only common features they share are one—they are furry; two—they have a large muscular hump on their front shoulders; three—their claws are longer and scoop-shaped; and four—they have rounded ears and a dish-shaped face, resembling a teddy bear.

Brown bears can vary dramatically in body size, coloration, facial features, claw colors and scarring. A bear that appears one color with its spring/summer coat may showcase a remarkably different coat come autumn. Some bears have ears set further apart; some have eyes closer together; some boast a longer nose and a taller forehead; others display a mismatch of patchy coloration all over their body, and some bear distinct scars.

Having worked as a bear-viewing guide around brown bears for the past decade, I have come to recognize individuals from a distance based on the aforementioned characteristics. I easily identify bears that I’ve seen year after year through their body proportions, facial features, scarring, and fur colorations. Based on their coloration, silhouette, and body movements, there are a few bears I can identify from half a mile away quite easily. Please enjoy this collection of brown bears that look nothing like each other!

This adult female is over 20 years old. One of her most distinct features is her very blonde face.

This adult female is over 20 years old. One of her most distinct features is her very blonde face.

This young adult male, with ears set quite far apart, exemplifies the dish-shaped forehead. Male bears reach their peak size around 12-17 years old. Judging by the size of this bear’s snout, he’ll likely grow quite a bit more.

This young adult male, with ears set quite far apart, exemplifies the dish-shaped forehead. Male bears reach their peak size around 12-17 years old. Judging by the size of this bear’s snout, he’ll likely grow quite a bit more.

This adult female in her 20s undergoes immense fur color pattern changes from year to year. Her body shape and a tiny scar above her right nostril help us ID her.

This adult female in her 20s undergoes immense fur color pattern changes from year to year. Her body shape and a tiny scar above her right nostril help us ID her.

This adult male, in his late teens or possibly early 20s, bears extensive scarring across his body and is missing an ear, the result of scuffles during the breeding season while competing for or defending mating opportunities.

This adult male, in his late teens or possibly early 20s, bears extensive scarring across his body and is missing an ear, the result of scuffles during the breeding season while competing for or defending mating opportunities.

This image shows a relatively uniform brown bear. Note the thinner fur on the bear’s forehead, typical during springtime among most male bears, as they rub intensely on scent-marking trees in the area.

This image shows a relatively uniform brown bear. Note the thinner fur on the bear’s forehead, typical during springtime among most male bears, as they rub intensely on scent-marking trees in the area.

This young male brown bear’s fur takes on an almost golden hue in the sunlight. Again, observe the length of the snout—this bear has some growing to do.

This young male brown bear’s fur takes on an almost golden hue in the sunlight. Again, observe the length of the snout—this bear has some growing to do.

This young female brown bear was around 7 or 8 in this picture. I’ve watched her each year since she was a yearling cub. One of her distinct features is her eyes; much darker fur around the eyes with very blonde hair on the rest of her face makes her easily recognizable.

This young female brown bear was around 7 or 8 in this picture. I’ve watched her each year since she was a yearling cub. One of her distinct features is her eyes; much darker fur around the eyes with very blonde hair on the rest of her face makes her easily recognizable.

This bear, munching on Lyngby’s sedge—an important springtime food, displays a uniform brown color, but the ears are slightly pointy and asymmetrical.

This bear, munching on Lyngby’s sedge—an important springtime food, displays a uniform brown color, but the ears are slightly pointy and asymmetrical.

The dark “socks” on this bear will aid in identifying it in the future. This bear is roughly 3.5 years old. You can discern its youth as the face still retains some cub-like proportions.

The dark “socks” on this bear will aid in identifying it in the future. This bear is roughly 3.5 years old. You can discern its youth as the face still retains some cub-like proportions.

Lastly, we have some very young cubs of the year. These two were likely 3-4 months old and weighed around 20 lbs. Their mother is the bear in image #1, and it’s already evident that she’s passed on her blonde facial fur to her cubs. Adorable!

Lastly, we have some very young cubs of the year. These two were likely 3-4 months old and weighed around 20 lbs. Their mother is the bear in image #1, and it’s already evident that she’s passed on her blonde facial fur to her cubs. Adorable!



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