Most of us have played with teddy bears since childhood. When you hear the word "bear," your mind automatically flashes to fluffy and soft toy bears that you played with as a child or watched on the television, don't you?
Well, in reality, besides looking cute and cuddly, bears are one of the most intelligent, strongest, and most powerful animals on the planet! Here in this article we will focus on the strongest bear species in the world.
Table of contents
List of the 8 strongest bear species in the world
- polar bears
- Kodiak-beren
- Grizzly their
- Kamchatka brown bears
- Ussuri brown bears
- Eurasian brown bears
- American black bears
- Asian black bears
polar bears
Polar bears, also known as polar bears, are largely found within the Arctic Circle which includes the Arctic Ocean and surrounding land and seas. These bears (Ursus maritimus) wear the crown because they are the strongest bear species!
Adult polar bears can grow up to 10 feet tall when standing on their hind legs and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds. Females are about 8 ft. tall and weigh up to 550 lbs.
The bite force of these white fluffy bears is 1,235 PSI, which gives them tremendous bite force. Besides their powerful jaws,polar bear poweris reflected in their ability to lift icebergs weighing over 1,000 lbs.
Polar bears are carnivores and apex predators that prey mainly on seals. They usually wait for the seals to come to the sea ice surface to breathe and then seize the opportunity to attack and hunt them down.
Polar bears are known for their aggressive behavior and will attack humans, more likely if they are hungry.
Kodiak-beren
The Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), also known as the Alaskan brown bear, is found in southwestern Alaska on the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago (hence the name).
They are one of the largest extant bears today, with polar bears being the other. When standing on their hind legs, adult Kodiak bears can grow over 10 feet tall and up to 5 feet when on all fours. Their average weight ranges between 254 and 794 lbs. However, the large males can weigh over 1,500 lbs!
These are omnivorous animals, eating forbs and grasses in the summer and feasting on the dead meat of deer and elk in the winter. They also feed on fish, invertebrates, tubers, seaweed, berries, nuts and plants. The bite force of Kodiak bears is measured at 1,100 PSI.
However, despite their immense strength and size, Kodiak bears are not aggressive and tend to avoid humans.
Grizzly their
Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) are a subspecies of brown bears and earned their name thanks to their hair-raising appearance. These bears, scattered across North America, have a carrion behavior and can eat rotting carcasses!
They mainly feed on salmon, deer, squirrels, marmots, bison, mice and moose. The height of adult grizzly bears can range from 3 ft. 6 in. to 9 ft. Tall, with male grizzlies weighing between 400-790 lbs on average, while female bears weigh between 290-400 lbs.
One grizzly bear has the same strength as five humans! They can lift a weight in excess of 1110 lbs which is more than their body weight. Grizzlies have a bite force of 1160 PSI, powerful enough to crush a bowling ball!
Although rare, there have been documented cases of attacks on humans. However, the majority of such cases were related to self-defense and cub/food protection.
Related:Strongest wolf breeds
Kamchatka brown bears
The Kamchatka brown bears (Ursus arctos beringianus), believed to be the ancestors of the Kodiak bears, are also referred to as the "Far Eastern brown bears".
They can be found in Eastern Siberia on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands, the Karaginsky Island and the Shantar Islands. While adult males grow up to 9 ft and weigh up to 800 lbs, the female bears grow up to 7 ft and weigh around 700 lbs.
The Kamchatka bears are known as the largest brown bears in Eurasia. They are omnivorous animals and their diet includes blueberries, humpback salmon, shankhead, nuts, fish, mountain ash, and crowberries, among other plants and animals.
These bear species are not aggressive towards humans, and according toWikipediaLess than 1% of human encounters lead to an attack.
Ussuri brown bears
Ussuri brown bears (Ursus arctos lasiotus) are also known as black grizzly bears and the Ezo brown bear. They are a subspecies of brown bears and are found in Ussuri Krai, Amur Oblast, Sakhalin, northern Shantar Island, China, the Korean Peninsula, Hokkaido, Iturup Island, and Kunashiri Island.
Although these bears are mostly vegetarian, they can kill any prey due to their status as large predators. They weigh anywhere from 880 lb to 1210 lbs while their length is between 6 and 9 ft in length.
They resemble Kamchatka brown bears, but are usually darker in color and have an elongated skull and a forehead that is less high. Ussuri brown bears are known to be solitary animals except when they are near the cubs or during mating.
Like their relatives (Kamchatka bears), Ussuri brown bears are also generally not dangerous to humans.
Eurasian brown bears
You guessed it from its name, the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos), is found in Eurasia and is also called the common bear, common brown bear, and European brown bear. These bears are the most common subspecies of the big bear species: brown bears.
The Eurasian brown bears have a strong bone structure and they have huge paws with claws that can reach up to 10 cm in length! They are about 48-83 inches tall and weigh about 300-550 lbs. These bears are usually solitary animals and can swim and run well.
Eurasian brown bears are omnivorous animals and their diet includes seeds, roots, fruits, insects, fish, mammals and meat from dead animals. They are recognized as one of the most aggressive Ursus arctos species.
American black bears
The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is found throughout North America and is known as the smallest bear in that region. Their versatile diet allows these bears to adapt to different habitats.
Their height ranges from 3 ft. 11 in. to 6 ft. 7 inches in length, but they can also grow much larger. While the adult weighs between 126-551 lbs, the female bears weigh close to 90-375 lbs.
Being omnivorous animals, these bears will eat a plethora of items from succulents, berries, roots, fish, meat and insects to grubs and grass! However, they are not known as hunters and are almost 85% vegetarian.
American black bears are typically non-aggressive species and will only exhibit violent behavior when threatened.
Read also:Strongest type of gorilla
Asian black bears
These black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are also called Asiatic black bears, white-chested bears, and moon bears because of their origin and color!
Asiatic black bears live in much of South Asia. Including Japan, Nepal, Northern India, Pakistan and Iran, along the mountains of Afghanistan.
Their length ranges from 4.25 to 6.25 inches long and they weigh about 220 to 440 lbs (females are half that). The Asiatic black bears are omnivorous animals that feed on fruits, insects, small mammals, birds, and beehives, as well as decaying animal flesh.
These bears are recognized to be more aggressive than the American and Eurasian black bears. In addition to being known to attack humans, Asiatic black bears will also often go after pets if given the chance.
Final thoughts
There you have it, a list of the top 8 strongest bear species in the world.
Did you know that polar bears, kodiak bears and grizzly bears are the most powerful right now when you think about it?
However, it is worth noting that all bear species can be dangerous, regardless of their level of aggression and natural strength. Every existing bear species is more powerful than any human, so it's important to keep unwanted situations to a minimum.
The best thing to do is to stay away from the bear and don't let the animal feel threatened in any way.
Thank you for reading. If you liked this article, I would like to recommend a similar read -How strong is an elephant?
Read further:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_danger
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm
FAQs
List of the 8 strongest bear species in the world? ›
Among all bear species, both the grizzly bear and polar bear take the crown as the strongest. Weighing more than around 800 pounds — the maximum recorded size is twice that figure — an individual male grizzly is equivalent to around five humans in strength … and even more when enraged.
What is the strongest species of bear? ›Among all bear species, both the grizzly bear and polar bear take the crown as the strongest. Weighing more than around 800 pounds — the maximum recorded size is twice that figure — an individual male grizzly is equivalent to around five humans in strength … and even more when enraged.
What is the biggest and strongest bear? ›Kodiak bears are the largest bears in the world. A large male can stand over 10' tall when on his hind legs, and 5' when on all four legs. They weigh up to 1,500 pounds.
Is the Kodiak bear the strongest bear? ›Kodiak Bears
In terms of their size and weight, they sit somewhere in the middle of grizzly and polar bears. They can be anywhere from 250 to 800 pounds and reach over ten feet in height. Even though they might not be the biggest, they're still some of the strongest bears out there.
USGS Science Explorer. It is a close call, but the polar bear is generally considered the largest bear species on Earth. A close second is the brown bear, specifically the Kodiak bear. The Kodiak is a subspecies of the brown bear native to Alaska.
Which bear is more violent? ›The grizzly bear is typically larger than the black bear and has a large muscle mass above its shoulders; a concave, rather than straight or convex, facial profile; and its behavior is much more aggressive.
What animal is stronger than grizzly? ›The one advantage that a Silverback might have is the enormous strength of its muscles. While grizzlies are immensely strong, gorillas, chimps, and monkeys have much greater muscle strength than other animals of a similar size.
What can beat a grizzly bear? ›In the battle of the grizzly bear vs tiger, a Siberian tiger would win a fight against a grizzly bear. The Siberian tiger is an ambush predator, and it's the only big cat that comes close to the grizzly bear in terms of size and power.
Which bear would win in a fight? ›If the two were hitting each other with their claws, it's likely the brown bear would have the advantage as their claws are more adapted to swiping. If a battle between grizzlies and polar bears turned into a wrestling match, the advantage could swing to polar bears.
What bear has the most human kills? ›Grizzly bears account for the most human deaths. They kill twice as many people as the North American black bear, which is the most abundant species on the continent. Half of the attacks from grizzlies were mothers protecting their cubs.
Would a Kodiak bear beat a grizzly? ›
While grizzly bears were thought to be the largest bear other than polar bears, Kodiak bears beat out grizzly bears in both size and weight.
Could a Kodiak bear beat a tiger? ›A Kodiak bear would win a fight against a Siberian tiger.
The Kodiak bear can be twice as heavy, longer in body, and much taller than the Siberian tiger. This mammal has a huge body, thick fur, and all sorts of protection in its body to make the fight last a long time.
Jambavan (Sanskrit: जाम्बवान, romanized: Jāmbavān), also known as Jambavanta (Sanskrit: जाम्बवन्त, romanized: Jāmbavanta), is the king of the bears in Hindu texts. He emerges out of the mouth of Brahma when the creator deity yawns.
What is the king of bears? ›Arthur Knight Hammer King of the Bears is a documentary about a self-proclaimed homosexual prophet who leaves his computer consulting business to dedicate his life to serving the Bear community and also to reveal to the world that Jesus was gay.
Which bear can you yell at? ›Intimidate the black bear by making yourself look bigger and making noise (wave arms, shout, clap, bang stick). Prepare to fight or use bear spray.
What is the most aggressive wild animal? ›#1 Nile Crocodile
The Nile crocodile gets the number one spot because it is the only animal on the list to consider humans a regular part of its diet. It's just as likely to grab a human that strays too close to the water's edge as it would a wildebeest. Hundreds of people are killed by the Nile crocodile every year.
Probably one of the least aggressive is the American black bear. What are some reasons why bears attack humans? Typically, you see two types of attacks on humans. One is a defensive attack, which most typically involves defending young or a food source, such as a prey carcass.
What is the top 1 strongest animal in the world? ›In brute strength, elephants are the strongest mammals and the strongest land animals. African elephants can weigh up to 6,350kg and they can carry up to 9,000kg, the weight of 130 adult humans.
Would a rhino beat a grizzly bear? ›The most significant difference between a grizzly bear and a rhinoceros is size. Grizzly bears can weigh 900 pounds, while rhinos can weigh up to 8,000 pounds! So through sheer force alone, the rhino could easily defeat a grizzly bear.
What is the strongest predator on land? ›#1. Wolf. The wolf is the top apex predator in the world.
What scares grizzly bears away? ›
Big beach balls tossed at bears often scares them off, as do opening and closing an umbrella, shaking a big tarp or garbage bag, or banging pots and pans. If a bear climbs up a tree to escape, yell at it and beat the base of the tree with a baseball bat or heavy stick.
Could a grizzly bear beat a shark? ›A shark would win a fight against a bear. Although a polar bear might be the best match out of any bear for a shark, it would still lose. It doesn't have the toolkit needed to slay a creature so much larger, faster, and deadlier than it.
What is a grizzly bear natural enemy? ›About half of grizzly cubs do not live to reach adulthood because of diseases and grizzly predators that include mountain lions, wolves, and adult male grizzlies. Humans are the greatest threat to grizzlies.
Would a gorilla beat a polar bear? ›So, it's best to just observe these formidable animals in their natural habitats from a safe distance. The polar bear would win a fight vs. a silverback gorilla, having a size, speed, and strength advantage.
Is a gorilla stronger than a grizzly bear? ›The gorilla and grizzly have a relatively similar bite strength, but the bear's build makes it harder for a gorilla's bite to be equally as effective. The gorilla's biggest advantage is its spry movement, whereas the grizzly's primary advantage is its claws. The grizzly is larger, but the gorilla is stronger.
Who would win in a fight a hippo or a grizzly bear? ›If the grizzly were fighting a wildebeest or moose, it'd only need to land one big bite. But this is a grizzly bear vs. hippo battle, and hippos have thick hides. The grizzly bear must go all out with multiple bites and claw slashes to overpower the thick-skinned hippo.
What bear attacks the most people? ›While grizzly bears used to inhabit most of the western part of the US, they are now only found in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. Grizzly bears can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and are very territorial, so they attack humans more often than any other type of bear.
What is the largest bear that ever lived? ›“Arctodus weighed about 1,600 pounds to 1,900 pounds,” says Matheus. That's roughly twice the weight of the average modern Alaska coastal brown bear. “On hind legs, it stood 8 feet to 10 feet tall.” Even on all fours, Arctodus could look a 6-foot man in the eye.
What animal kills the most humans? ›| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Preferred Habitat | Coastal mountains |
| Average Litter Size | 2-3 cubs |
| Main Prey Species and Food Items | Salmon, crustaceans, mollusks, mammals, berries, plants |
| Predators | Male Kodiak bear, humans |
Can a grizzly take down a bull moose? ›
Grizzly bears have been shown to be particularly effective predators of moose calves from birth to about 2 months of age and often kill adult moose in the spring.
Who would win Siberian tiger or polar bear? ›With its unmatched stamina and overwhelming size, a polar bear could easily defeat a Siberian tiger.
Would a silverback gorilla beat a tiger? ›Although the gorilla is strong, the fact is that it could not stop 600 pounds of charging muscle and teeth. Gorillas lack the sensory capabilities to notice a stalking tiger before it launches its fatal attack. If the two creatures met on an open field, the tiger would still have the advantage in the fight.
Has a tiger ever fought a bear? ›There were numerous reports of tigers preying on both brown bears and Asiatic black bears, but the relationship, it seems, was not that simple; there were also reports of bears killing tigers.
Who would win a fight between a Kodiak bear and an elephant? ›An elephant would beat a bear in a fight. Even though we have granted this hypothetical bear the best features of all the various species, the fact remains that they cannot do enough damage to kill an adult elephant. A fully grown bull elephant would most likely smell or hear a bear coming long before it showed up.
What is a gorilla biggest enemy? ›Predators. Leopards and crocodiles are large carnivores which may prey upon gorillas. Humans are the greatest threat to all gorilla populations.
How strong is a gorilla punch? ›How strong is a gorilla punch? How hard can a gorilla punch? It is believed that a gorilla punch is strong enough to shatter your skull with one slam of its arm:/Between 1300 to 2700 pounds of force.
Can a bear fight a lion? ›A bear would win a fight against a lion. Bears have the advantage in just about every aspect, from size to offensive capabilities. The only time that a lion would win is if it managed to sneak up and ambush a bear, leaping onto it and biting into its head with such power that it shattered the skill.
What is the rarest bear called? ›The spirit bear, also known as the Kermode bear, is the rarest bear in the world and a subspecies of the black bear found only in this small part of British Columbia.
What is the 500 pound bear called? ›Hank, also known as Jake or Yogi or simply Big Guy, was what one wildlife official described as a "severely food habituated bear" that has "lost all fear of people" and thinks of them as a food source.
What is the legendary bear? ›
The Legendary Bear can be found to the north of O'Creagh's Run, a lake well north of Emerald Ranch in the southern part of Grizzlies East. This Legendary Beast can only be hunted during the day - which is the only time clues will appear in this area.
Who is the smartest bear? ›Grizzly bears are among the most intelligent animals in North America and the world.
What is a mega bear? ›The Mega Neon Brown Bear is a Rare Pet from Jungle Egg. It is currently worth a little more than the Neon Lion. It is currently worth a little less than the Neon Arctic Reindeer. It is currently about equal in value to the Tombstone Ghostify.
Who is the most famous bear in the world? ›Grizzly 399 the World's Most Famous Bear.
Can a grizzly take on a polar bear? ›A grizzly bear is likely able to beat both a polar bear and a black bear in a battle for survival.
Who would win in a fight a Kodiak bear or a saltwater crocodile? ›Crocodiles are too large and strong for bears to overcome. A fully grown saltwater crocodile would win a fight against the largest bears.
What was the biggest bear killed in Kodiak? ›The world's record Alaska brown bear (Ursos arctos middendorffi) scored 30 12/16 and was taken near Kodiak's Karluk Lake in late May 1952. The immense bear was shot by Roy R. Lindsley, who was a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee based in Kodiak.
Is polar bear stronger than grizzly? ›However, grizzly bears are tougher than polar bears as they possess stronger and longer claws and an elongated skull with sharp and long canines that can completely separate the flesh from bone.
How strong is a Kodiak bear? ›Kodiak bears have a very strong bite that is probably similar to a grizzly bear at 975 PSI, with enough power to break bones. They have teeth that measure 2 inches long or more, enough to puncture deep into prey. Moreover, Kodiah bears have the raw power that helps them knock over prey and maul them.
Who would win polar bear or grizzly bear? ›Many wonders who will win a fight between polar bears and grizzly bears as both are giant carnivores. In addition, polar bears are a bit larger and possess more powerful paws and sharp teeth. All these features indicate that they would win a fight.
What is stronger a gorilla or bear? ›
The gorilla and grizzly have a relatively similar bite strength, but the bear's build makes it harder for a gorilla's bite to be equally as effective. The gorilla's biggest advantage is its spry movement, whereas the grizzly's primary advantage is its claws. The grizzly is larger, but the gorilla is stronger.
Who would win a fight a silverback gorilla or a grizzly bear? ›A grizzly beats a silverback 10 times out of 10. The average silverback weighs around 350 pounds and stands at 5-and-a-half feet tall. Their long arms give them the reach advantage on a grizzly, but that's about it.
What animal can fight a polar bear? ›Adult polar bears have no natural predators, though walruses and wolves can kill them.
Can polar bear beat an elephant? ›An elephant would win in a polar bear vs elephant fight. The elephant is simply too large for the bear to do anything meaningful against. The polar bear can't exactly leap onto an elephant's back, so it would only be able to attack the elephant's legs and stomach area.
Can a lion beat a grizzly bear? ›Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Grizzly Bear and a Lion? A grizzly bear would win a fight against a lion, probably with a grizzly bear breaking the lion's back or biting through its skull. The lion indeed has an advantage in terms of their skill in hunting, especially if they are attacking in a pack.