Cross Breed

[Trophy Hunter]

Is it possible for a large black bear to mate with a grizzly? or vise versa.

In the high country i saw a couple that make me wounder. I know ther are cinimon bears but the way theses bears acted when spotted were not like any of the other bear in the area.

[BC CHASER]

Typically grizzlies will eat black bears.  I guess it might be possible but if it is it would be extremely rare and I don't think you would see them here.  I saved an article out of a paper that has the photos of the first ever grizz/polar bear found.  A guy shot it in Northern Canada.  Looking at the article now it says they have been paired in captive but this was the first known in the wild.

[Trophy Hunter]

I saw that same article. Strange looking white bear with those dark eyes.

The one i saw i was more concerned about the aggression the bear had and the size.
when i finally let him/her see me it did not run right away but when it did decide to leave it ran clean out of the country.

[WOLFMAN]

Maybe the bear you saw was a black,grizzley,polar bear mix.

[BC CHASER]

If caught off guard black bears can show aggression.  Look at Sayleens bear he shot this year, it charged him.  I too have been charged.  As far as the color I have seen more cinnamon bears this year than ever.  I think we have seen 6 or 8 this year.  Look at the color and the size of the bear RubblesPH's buddy took just a few days ago.  I will get a picture of that article on here.

[Trophy Hunter]

i dont think so wolfman............... there was not enough white.

[PWN Kurt]

The book by Richard Smith on black bear hunting discusses a wild cross.  From the photo it looks like a giant black bear (black fur and brown nose...and exceptionally big).  Genetic tests on the skull says its a grizzly.

If I remember correctly it was harvested in Alaska.

If it does happen, its very rare.

Kurt

[high country]

i would go with the tell tale charictaristics over attitude. hum back, dish face tell me its a griz. grizzly color can be a phase,  see it often here in the ne. put a roman nose on a big silver bear and no hump and I am shooting it.