Black Bears are black in name only, many are black but there can also be brown, cinnamon, and even white "Black Bears". It is not unusual for a sow to have cubs of different colours. The main difference between the Black bear and the Grizzly Bear is the large hump between the shoulders of the grizzly. This hump is pure muscle which he uses to dig for marmots and ground squirrels.
Black Bears prefer the forest while the Grizzly likes the open alpine meadows. When threatened, the Black bear sow will send her cubs up a tree for safety, if she feels threatened, she will join them up the tree. Grizzly sows, being in open meadows will place her cubs behind her and then turn and face her advisory.
Bears do hibernate during the winter when there is no food available for them. Hibernation can last for up to five months during which time they do not eat, drink, pee or poop!
