Black Bear Scat and Tracks: How to Identify Them (Ursus americanus)

Carnivore scat is tubular, often twisted and tapered at one end, and full of hair, bone fragments, berries or seeds depending on the season. Dog-family tracks show four toes with claw marks and an X drawn between the pads; cat-family tracks show four toes with no claws and a three-lobed heel pad. Many carnivores leave scat on trails, rocks and junctions on purpose, so where it sits is a clue in itself. The measurements below for Black Bear are quoted from the wildlife agencies linked at the bottom of the page.

• Front: Front foot about 3.75 inches long (varies considerably between individuals)
• Hind: Hind foot about 8 inches long, usually 5 toes though the innermost small toe may not register
• Toes: 5 toes on both front and hind feet
• Claws usually do not show
• Gait: The hind footprint often looks like a human footprint left by a soft moccasin

• Claw marks on trees: Bears leave several distinctive marks on trees, and their claws often leave impressions in soft substrates
• Black Bear scat specimen description (image caption): The source has only an image caption, with no detailed written description of size/shape/contents

An adult bear is far larger than a dog, with a rounder outline, and its very short tail is often held close to the body and hard to see The Domestic Dog page has its own sign list.

Put something of known size next to it (a coin, a pen, a boot) and shoot straight down in soft light; low side light brings out the shape of tracks in mud or snow. For scat, photograph the whole deposit and one close-up showing contents. Note where it was: on a log, in the open, on a trail, near water. The app suggests the likely animal; confirm with the size and shape notes above.