Alaska is home to a slew of furious furry giants, notably bears! Two of the most common bruin residents are the black bear (Ursus americanus) and the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), often referred to as brown bears in coastal Alaska. These not so cuddly titans of the last frontier might seem similar at first glance, but look closer, and the differences are many. Wether you’re simply viewing bears or hunting them, it is important to be able to distinguish the two. In this article we’ll break down everything you need to know about black bears vs. grizzly bears.