They get that big in places. We got one that measured 7 feet 3inches on prince of whales about 4 years ago. Big SOB but I have no idea on the weight. We even found bigger tracks on the river bank that dwarfed his. Now that bear had to be something out of the ordinary(I know they have no brownies on POW but it would have had to have been a world record if it was a black)
I think the writer doesn't realize how they are measured when he stated "over eight feet".....Still amazing for one mile away from my house.