Black bears measure about three feet high when on all fours or about five to seven feet tall when standing upright Bear Signs and Sounds Bear tracks are distinctive. The hind footprint resembles a human's. Bears have five toes. The front foot is shorter than the rear, which is long and narrow. Claw marks may or may not be visible.
Bears use trails just as people do.
Look for tracks in soft earth or around mud puddles. Watch for claw marks on smooth-barked trees or rotten logs that have been ripped apart for insects. It's also easy to recognize a black bear's sizable droppings of partly-digested berries, corn or animal hair. Adult black bears make a variety of sounds that include woofing, growls and jaw-popping. Sows communicate with their cubs by using low grunts or huffs.