The palm of this left front track made by a black bear cub is less than three inches wide. This photo was taken in the fall, when the cubs weigh no more than 50 pounds or so. This is the left front track, which you can tell by looking at the shape of the metacarpal (palm) pad. The narrower end is toward the left, or in inside of the direction of travel.

This cub track was barely visible in the fine dust on this dirt road. It looks like the right foot due to the shape of the pad, but it's hard to tell much more. Since cubs do not weigh much, it can be difficult to find their tracks. You need really good substrate to see some of these signs.

Tiny left front track left by a bear cub. The toes seem smaller and not as thick as those you find in the tracks of older bears. Perhaps walking helps spread the toes out wider and makes them appear larger in relation to the rest of the track.

A very nice, clear right hind bear cub track in fine dust. This was found along the edge of a dirt road. The detailed track shows some fine marks from fur and the line that cuts across the metatarsal (heel) pad. All five toes are visible, but no claw marks.

This left hind track is beautifully detailed. The toes are visible, but just barely. No claw marks are evident. The perfect shape of the metatarsal (heel) pad allows identification of this track as a left hind.

This right front track on a dirt road shows no claws, which is typical for bear tracks. Sometimes you see claw marks, and other times they are not there.

A cub examines a tree used by other bears to mark and rub their backs. There is a lot of fur snagged in the bark of this tree because it is a regularly used mark tree.

Mother and cub examining a black bear marking tree. Still image from video taken by my trail camera.

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