It too is nocturnal and rarely seen, and there are no estimates of population size at this point. Both of these bears are scavengers and are omnivorous in diet, meaning that they eat both plant and animal material. Plants form the mainstay of their diet. The black bear is commonly seen in forested areas, along roadsides and in campgrounds. It is smaller than the grizzly, lacks a hump on its shoulders, and has a straight facial profile.
Colour varies from black to cinnamon and white patches on the chests are common.
They have short curved claws and are agile tree climbers. Carrion and insects make up about 22 per cent and mammals are a mere one per cent. During the winter dormant state, bears live off fat layers built up during the summer months. The grizzly bear is unmistakable because of the large muscular hump on its shoulders. Colour is variable but usually light brown with some blond or white hairs giving a grizzled or silver-tip effect.