Are There Brown Bears or Grizzlies in Arkansas?
No brown bears, including grizzlies, are found in Arkansas. The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the only bear species in the state. Arkansas has never been part of the historical range for brown bears.
Arkansas’s Only Bear Species
American black bears (Ursus americanus) exhibit a range of coat colors, including black, brown, cinnamon, and blonde. In Arkansas, approximately 23 percent of black bears in the Ozark Mountains and 3 percent in the Ouachita Mountains display brown or cinnamon coloration. Adult males typically weigh between 130 and 300 pounds, though some can exceed 600 pounds, while females usually range from 90 to 150 pounds.
Black bears are omnivores, with a diet that shifts seasonally. They primarily consume plants, insects like ants and bees, and fruits such as acorns, hickory nuts, and berries. They prefer heavily forested areas with dense vegetation, including oak-hickory and bottomland hardwood forests. Black bears are generally solitary and adept at climbing trees, often seeking refuge or foraging.
The Return of Bears to Arkansas
Arkansas was once known as “The Bear State” due to an abundant black bear population, estimated at 50,000 before European settlement. However, extensive hunting and habitat destruction in the 19th and early 20th centuries severely depleted their numbers. By the 1930s, the black bear population in Arkansas had dwindled to as few as 50 to 100 individuals, primarily in isolated pockets.
To address this decline, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission initiated a reintroduction program between 1958 and 1968. Over 250 black bears were transplanted from Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada, into the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. This effort is considered one of North America’s most successful large carnivore reintroductions. As a result, the black bear population in Arkansas has rebounded, with current estimates exceeding 5,000 bears across the state.
Identifying Arkansas’s Bears
To distinguish between a black bear and a grizzly bear, look for a shoulder hump. Grizzlies possess a shoulder hump, while black bears lack this feature.
Another differentiating feature is the facial profile: grizzlies have a dished or concave face, while black bears exhibit a straighter, more dog-like profile. Their claws also differ; grizzly bears have longer, straighter, and often lighter-colored claws suited for digging, whereas black bears have shorter, more curved, and darker claws adapted for climbing trees. While grizzlies are typically larger, size alone is not a definitive identifier.