Bear Color 5/15/21

When you see a bear in central Pennsylvania, it is an American Black Bear and almost always black in color. The black color helps the bears to blend in the thick and dark forests of Pennsylvania. However, in other areas of the black bear's wide range in North America, it is an advantage to not be black. In non-forested areas, black bears can be brown, cinnamon, blond, blue-gray, or even white. These other colors can help black bears blending into non-forested terrain, to lessen the possibility of heat stress, or to mimic a grizzly bear (brownish colors).

https://blog.nature.org/science/2017/02/07/when-black-bear-actually-blue-bear-color-phases-grizzly-identification/

On a 2019 trip to Denali National Park we expected grizzle bears to be brown, but we soon realized there is great color variability. Although often brown, grizzly bears can range in color from jet black to light blond. Additionally, many grizzly bears, especially older males, can have frosted tips to the hair on their backs. This gives them a “grizzled look” - hence the name. The color variation in the grizzle bears of Denali is evident across the photo above and the four below.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=314

While at one point on our trip we came within 100 ft of three grizzle bears - at the Eielson Visitor Center 66 miles into Denali - the other sightings were at greater distances and from a vehicle. That notwithstanding, it was Fall and the bears were mainly interested in eating the blue berries, soapberries and cranberries that grow low to the ground, in preparation for hibernation. The characteristic shoulder hump and concave forehead are evident.