Do Black Bear and Grizzly Crossbreed???

[poppa bear0062]

We returned from Alaska last Septermber after a unsuccessful Caribou and Moose hunt, but a successful bear hunt. We spotted what was by far the largest black bear we have ever seen.,
My youngest son harvested the bear with a well placed shot with his bow. He has harvested 3 black bear previously in Virginia, but the head on this one just dwarfed the heads from the ones he had harvested there.

 

[tater]

Out of curiosity, what does it tape out to?

 

[Luke S]

Never heard of it. I assume Fish and Game would have raised a concern if it looked off. Lots of smaller bear up here to.

 

[poppa bear0062]

I text my son for the measurements and will add it when he responds
He had messaged me last week that it had made BC


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[bushwhacker1975]

that's a big skull do i have pictures of the best?

 

[poppa bear0062]

20 2/16


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[Snowwolfe]

Bottom line is, they are not supposed to but I guess it is possible but highly improbable. If I am not mistaken, it was proven awhile back that grizzlies had bred with polar bears. Unless what I read was a lie.

 

[wesfromky]

Bottom line is, they are not supposed to but I guess it is possible but highly improbable. If I am not mistaken, it was proven awhile back that grizzlies had bred with polar bears. Unless what I read was a lie.

They are called pizzly bears. Rare, but documented.

 

[Htm84]

Bottom line is, they are not supposed to but I guess it is possible but highly improbable. If I am not mistaken, it was proven awhile back that grizzlies had bred with polar bears. Unless what I read was a lie.

Are Grizzlies and Polar Bears Hybridizing in Alaska?

As grizzly and polar bear ranges continue begin to overlap, it could be a matter of time before "pizzly bears" are found in Alaska.

www.outdoorlife.com

It wouldn’t shock me if black and brown bears crossbred but it’s definitely not a common thing. I’d be interested in seeing what that bear looked like before it was skinned.

 

[BRWNBR]

There is one documented case of it that I am aware of and have seen pictures off. Was a 9’ black bear. Super long claws. White chevron on its chest with a skull of almost 26”. It was dna tested and shown to be a mix breed.

I wouldn’t get real excited about a 20” skull being a cross bred bear. It’s not uncommon. The big differences would likely be in the claws as black bears have short very curved front claws and brown bears have extremely long claws.

In your picture your Virginia bears appear to be very young and underdeveloped. The back of the skull is still rounded off with no promote ridge to the bone structure.
Basically those Virginia bears are tiny and the Alaska bear is a great one so the contrast is pretty extreme.

 

[BRWNBR]

Here’s a 14” and 26” skull difference.

 

[BRWNBR]

Here is a 14” black bear and a 19” black bear. Size difference in the bears was a little over a foot.