Big Game Hunting

Black Bear

Identifying Female Black Bears

On average, in the spring, an adult male will typically weigh about 80 -90 kg (175-200 lbs), while an adult female will be 55-70 kg (125-150 lbs) and a yearling, 15-30 kg (35-60 lbs). Large males, 115+ kg (250+ lbs) will measure a foot taller than a 170 litre (45 gallon) bait barrel that's lying on its side. To assist hunters to differentiate between a female and male black bear, the following characteristics are presented:

Adult females tend to:

• be smaller and leaner looking
• appear as long as they are tall
• have elongated muzzles, flatter looking foreheads and bigger looking ears
• have a tuft of gathered hair angling down and outward from the vulva, which is immediately below the tail
• urinate toward the rear
• be more cautious entering a bait site
• have enlarged mammaries when nursing
• have a visible vulva when "in heat" - peak being June.

Adult males tend to:

• have blockier, more rectangular bodies
• have big-looking front feet
• have wider, rounder and muscular heads, necks and shoulders, and ears that look smaller and farther apart
• have a crease or furrow running down the centre of the forehead
• have a penis sheath hanging down in front of the hind legs
• have testicles between the hind legs
• urinate toward the front
• be less cautious entering a bait site