How does a black bear skull differ from the skull of another animal?
Black bear skulls are typically massive; much bigger than those of most North American wildlife. It is quite long and wide across the forehead, but narrower in the muzzle area. The eyebrow ridge is well-defined and the nostrils are quite broad. The jawbone hinge is large to accommodate the heavy jaw muscles. A female skull may be narrower and more pointed than that of a mature male. An average measurement is 11.5 inches in length and 6.5 to 7 inches in width. The longest black bear skull recorded with the Boone and Crockett system was 14.75 inches and the widest black bear skull was 8.875 inches. Skull illustrations from Skulls and Bones by Glenn Searfoss Why aren’t bears good hunters, when they are considered predators? Black bears are not efficient predators, primarily because their skeletons are designed for strength rather than speed. They have thick limbs, massive shoulders, and a short back. None of these attributes is expressly designed to increase speed. Instead, they provide t
