Interesting color breakdown stats on bears

[dirty24d]

Color variations of black bears by location
Location                           Color breakdown

Michigan                           100% black
Minnesota                         94% black, 6% brown
New England                     100% black
New York                         100% black
Tennessee                       100% black
Washington                      (coastal) 99% black, 1% brown or blonde
Washington                      (inland) 21% black, 79% brown or blonde
Yosemite National Park       9% black, 91% brown or blonde

[Thwack]

Interesting. Where did you find this?

[dirty24d]

Wikipedia american black bear.  I was looking for size to weight ratios but didnt find much. 

[Gutpile]

I'm not sure i buy the fact that 79% of Washington bears are other than black. Maybe 50% but thats a stretch, I try to think of all the bears I've seen in WA and no way were the majority other colors than black. Wonder what bearpaw says.

[carpsniperg2]

i 2nd that i would guess about 40% color and 60% black from what i have seen

[rasbo]

Ive been seeing more color phase this year than any other,I almost dumped a cinnamon today which I want real bad,lucky for mama to cubs came into the picture,she smacked one and the other jumped out,so she smacked that one to,it was cool.

[Gutpile]

Ive been seeing more color phase this year than any other,I almost dumped a cinnamon today which I want real bad,lucky for mama to cubs came into the picture,she smacked one and the other jumped out,so she smacked that one to,it was cool.

For real? Did you call them in?

[rasbo]

Ive been seeing more color phase this year than any other,I almost dumped a cinnamon today which I want real bad,lucky for mama to cubs came into the picture,she smacked one and the other jumped out,so she smacked that one to,it was cool.

For real? Did you call them in?

no,i was in the dark timber coming across a bowl,they came out of a small patch of salmon berries...there were no berries :dunno:I seen a big black boar above that awhile back and thought I would come in from the bottom and maybe catch him snoozing....It was cool, short yardage

[dirty24d]

My question is how was this data collected?    But thought it was interesting nonetheless.

[shedcrazy]

I know the Michigan stat is pretty close, my dad lives there and its all black all the time. They do have some huge bears back east though. I have also seen about a 3 to 1 ratio for colored over black this year.

[billythekidrock]

I'm not sure i buy the fact that 79% of Washington bears are other than black. Maybe 50% but thats a stretch, I try to think of all the bears I've seen in WA and no way were the majority other colors than black. Wonder what bearpaw says.

I agree. Plus Wikipedia is not the most accurate source to begin with.