Black or grizzly?

[bcd]

My friend sent me some photos from a recent canoe trip on the Nicola river near Merrit. She thought it might be a grizzly, but I'm inclined to think it's a black bear. Thoughts?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bX3l70OlNJI/UDRikHztINI/AAAAAAAAAOY/2dB8xoJD9LA/s800/bear1.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aNTXwmjFGnA/UDRij2vgLcI/AAAAAAAAAOU/CxWa4Oee0oA/s800/bear2.JPG

[ellenbill]

Black bear.

[r106]

I'm guessing a blacky.

[000buck]

almost certainly a blackie

[MB_Boy]

What they said.

[pnbrock]

back in black!!!

[elkdom]

that looks like a Badger to me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and not very healthy one at that! :shock:

[yama49]

Blacky forsure

[The Dawg]

Brizzly!

:)

[Big Lew]

Definitely a black....lots of brown and blond phase blacks in the Merritt-Nicola area.

[coach]

Nice colored black bear. Looks like rather poor conditions for a canoe trip. Not a lot of water in there.

[The Silent Stalker]

Blackie for sure.

[Trophyslayer]

It's a SASQUATCH!!!

[bcd]

Wow thanks for all the fast responses guys. Looks like we have a winner. So what are the clues, I was going off of shape of head, ears too big and not a big enough hump, plus overall size, although there isn't really a good reference for size?


Nice colored black bear. Looks like rather poor conditions for a canoe trip. Not a lot of water in there.

Yeah it was white water canoeing. Apparently kayaking isn't exciting enough.

[BernDawg]

Mickey Mouse ears! Blacky it is.

[markt308]

The second pic really gives it away. Head shape was the first thing I noticed

[4pointer91]

Definitely a blackie ...lack of shoulder hump and shape of head are key markers.