- Most common bear species in California
- Found in forested areas throughout the state
- Typically black or dark brown with a distinctive humped shoulder
- Omnivorous diet, including berries, fruits, nuts, insects, and small mammals
Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)
- Once widespread in California, now found only in small, isolated populations in the northern and eastern parts of the state
- Larger than black bears, with a brown or grizzled coat and a distinctive hump on the back
- Omnivorous diet, similar to black bears
American Black Bear:
The most common bear in California, black bears are found in many areas of the state, including the Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, and coastal mountains. Black bears are usually black or dark brown but may also have a cinnamon or blonde color. They have small, rounded ears and long, sharp claws. Black bears are omnivorous and their diet includes berries, fruits, nuts, vegetation, and insects. They also prey on small mammals and fish.
Grizzly Bear:
The grizzly bear is a subspecies of the brown bear that once inhabited much of California, but is now found only in a few isolated areas of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Grizzly bears are larger than black bears, with a more muscular build and a distinctive hump over their shoulders. They are also more aggressive and territorial than black bears. Grizzly bears are omnivorous and their diet includes berries, fruits, nuts, roots, and fish. They also prey on deer, elk, and moose.