I think the answer simply is that constellations are never perfect fits to the thing they are imagined to represent. And further, the people picked things important to them to attach rather than the most accurate.
Here are two alternate interpretations. One with the weird tail stars not included as the outline of the bear, but just ‘associated’ with the bear (e.g. cub interpretation). The other with the bear facing the opposite way such that the tail is now the head. This makes the legs match less well though.
I think the answer simply is that constellations are never perfect fits to the thing they are imagined to represent. And further, the people picked things important to them to attach rather than the most accurate.
Here are two alternate interpretations. One with the weird tail stars not included as the outline of the bear, but just ‘associated’ with the bear (e.g. cub interpretation). The other with the bear facing the opposite way such that the tail is now the head. This makes the legs match less well though.