Polar bears are the world’s largest carnivorous land mammals.Right from the tip of their short little tail to the tip of their cold, wet nose, polar bears are typically between 7-8 ft (2.1-2.4 m) long. Male polar bears are also significantly larger than female polar bears.A huge male can weigh well over 1,700 lb (771 kg), whereas a giant female weighs almost half - up to 1,000 lb (453.5 kg). Bears can gain up to 50% more weight after a successful hunting season; most of this extra weight is fat. A newborn polar bear’s weight is roughly 1.5 lb (680 g).Brown bears are the world’s most widely distributed bear species in terms of continental range. Brown bears are generally typically larger and more aggressive than black bears, so you’ll want to be prepared if you know you may run into one.Most bear assaults happen if you enter what’s known as a grizzly bear’s critical space or when the mother bear is frequently protecting her offspring. Brown bears are known for being formidable defenders, despite the fact that food conditioning and surprise can frighten them into aggression. Brown bear attacks are most common in the months of May and June when mothers are reacquainting themselves with their offspring after a long hibernation.We’ve all heard of grizzly bears and polar bears, but which would you choose if you had to predict which the more deadly sub-species were? True, with fast-changing temperatures, there have been showdowns between polar bears and grizzly bears, with one species emerging dominant. Let’s look at the distinctions between polar bears and grizzly bears and then discover who would win in a fight between the two.Here we’ve gathered a lot of facts on brown bear vs. polar bear, and lots of curious questions have been answered too. You could also check out our other facts articles on polar bear facts and bear facts.Brown Bear Diet Vs. Polar Bear DietFor polar bears, seals are the main source of food.Even though these seals may be found all around the Arctic Circle, many polar bears avoid venturing too far north to catch them. This is the case because the waters around the polar bear’s natural habitat are covered in ice throughout the winter.These polar bears are forced to eat different food such as walrus or even beluga whales because they don’t have a substantial seal population to hunt. Seals have evolved to be apprehensive of entering polar bear dens throughout the spring and summer months because polar bears rely on them for food.Grizzly bears are opportunistic eaters, eating practically anything that moves, including carrion, insects, eggs, fish, rodents, ground squirrels, moose, elk, caribou, and deer. Plants with succulent roots, fruits, berries, and grasses are among the plants that will attract bears. They’ve even been known to attack cars in some parts of Alaska when drivers don’t move quickly enough.Bears, particularly black and grizzly bears, are nominally members of the Carnivora order, although they are primarily omnivores who eat plants, insects, fish, and other animals.Throughout the year, bears spend most of their time exploring a patchwork of habitats, feeding on grass, insects, and other more predictable but lower-calorie food sources. Plant foods account for the majority of a bear’s diet, up to 90% of the time.Although most non-coastal bears subsist on carrion, seafood and meat are essential sources of protein and fat (including winter-killed animals). However, some bears become extremely adept predators on baby elk, moose, and deer. Other bears spend part of the year in locations where salmon, suckers, and fish spawn are abundant.Brown Bear Strength Vs. Polar Bear StrengthYou might have heard of the study that suggests polar bears are more inclined to give up prey to grizzly bears, but what advantages do each species have in a fight?After all, polar bears may be more willing to give up prey to save calories by not fighting. If there was a real fight, the outcome might be different.So, which bear species is more likely to be the victor?Polar bears are larger than other bears; in fact, they are the largest bear species on earth. Male polar bears weigh somewhere between 770-1,500 lb (349-680 kg) on average. Kodiak bear, the largest known subspecies of brown bears, weighs 660-1,320 lb (299-599 kg) on average. Male grizzly bears whose territory sometimes overlaps with that of polar bears weigh between 400-790 lb (181-358 kg) on average. Few grizzly bears have ever weighed more than 1,700 lb (771 kg), while the heaviest polar bear ever recorded was 2,209 lb (1002 kg).Polar bears have massive paws that aid them in walking on ice. Their claws get shorter and sharper as a result of this. If they were fighting with their claws, the brown bear would most likely win because their claws are better adapted to swiping.If a fight between grizzlies and polar bears evolved into a wrestling contest, the polar bears might emerge as victors. Male polar bears wrestle and bite at each other’s necks when they fight (playfully or not).Grizzly and polar bear confrontations have been documented in the past; in many of these encounters, grizzly bears killed denning female polar bears despite a large size disadvantage.Brown Bear Adaptations Vs. Polar Bear AdaptationsGrizzly bears reside further south than polar bears in the arctic. They also occupy a large part of western Canada and Alaska.On the other hand, polar bears reside on the northernmost reaches of North America, with a range that includes the North Pole. Because seals are the primary source of food for polar bears, they prefer to stay near the water and rarely venture inland.Brown bears can be almost black, brown, or extremely light brown or blonde in color.The northern Rocky Mountains, Alaska, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East are home to the most common bears. In North America, there are mainly two known subspecies of brown bears: grizzlies and Kodiak bears.Polar bears prefer to live and hunt in the ocean’s arctic waters, while grizzlies prefer to stay on land. Polar bears, known as ursus maritimus, are among the world’s largest bears. Adult males can weigh up to 1760 lb (800 kg). Males disperse to outlying locations to establish home ranges apart from their close relatives, including mothers and sisters, like in many big mammals with male-biased dispersal. Sea ice and water are crucial components of a polar bear’s environment.The black bear’s black and brown color phase is expected. The white color phase is relatively rare in Canada’s northwestern British Columbia.The researchers discovered that fights between members of the same species are more common. Still, they also discovered previously unrecorded bouts between polar bears and brown bears, during which the wild grizzly bear maintained social dominance like usual older siblings.Brown Bear Aggression Vs. Polar Bear AggressionA polar bear and a grizzly bear belong to the Ursidae family of animals. Although polar bears are the largest bear species, they are both incredibly massive bears. Polar bears, in fact, stand out in a variety of ways.Polar bears are more aggressive than grizzly bears in general. For example, there is a large polar bear population on the far northwestern Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. They’re so fierce that the people are required to carry firearms outside villages to keep polar bears at bay.Polar bears have a faster metabolism than humans.A grizzly bear doesn’t eat much meat, which is a stunning fact. Meat makes up only 10% of their diet, as the bear favors berries and blooming plants. This is a significant difference compared to polar bears, who eat virtually exclusively meat.A grizzly bear will eat in bulk to withstand the long winter hibernations. Polar bears do not hibernate. Polar bears thrive in the most challenging cold circumstances and hunt all year.Polar bears typically avoid fighting and will even walk away if they encounter humans, whereas a grizzly bear will charge at any potential invader.When you add it all up, polar bears are more aggressive and eat (nearly) entirely meat-based diets, while a grizzly bear will browse for berries. Also, polar bears continue to hunt through the harshest of the winter while a grizzly bear sleeps. So, many believe polar bears to be stronger.Other Interesting Facts About Polar Bears and Grizzly BearsPolar bears are large mammals similar to coastal dark brown bears, but they lack the hump and are more streamlined. These bears’ various shapes are adaptations to their respective lifestyles.The long claws of the brown bears are suitable for digging roots and excavating small mammals, but they are ineffective in climbing trees. Whereas polar bears have shorter (albeit sharp) claws because of walking on ice and snow.A polar and brown bear can successfully mate even in captivity, giving rise to pizzly and grolar bears. Although, polar bear-brown bear hybrids are rare.Grizzlies, like polar bears, can stand on their hind legs. Brown bears can move a little while on two legs, and so can polar bears. There are eight other bear species and 46 sub-species worldwide.An Asian black bear, called a moon bear, is known for its cream-colored chest blazes. The moon bear is one of the lightest bears at 300 lb (136 kg) and can be easy to tame, frequently seen in circuses.Bears can range in color from jet black to dark brown to reddish.Environmental deterioration, such as habitat loss, expanding human populations, food shortages, and climate change, can all be connected to increased human-bear confrontations.Rising sea levels also threaten the arctic habitat of polar bears.Mosquitoes are responsible for around 700,000 human deaths per year. At the same time, data tells us there are less than 50 bear attacks in a year worldwide; although grizzly bears have been found responsible for the most humans ever killed by a bear, the exact number of deaths are no more than two dozen.The sun bears can be found in southeast Asia and India’s forests and shrubland. Sun bears are the smallest bear (Ursus genus), weighing between 55-143 lb (25-65 kg).Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, are where sloth bears are commonly found. Sloth bears are nocturnal in nature and live in ranges with any other bears like sun bears, that they typically enjoy sharing with.The spectacled bear is the sole bear native to South America and the world’s last short-faced bear. The name ‘spectacled’ stems from the lighter marks that resemble spectacles around the eyes of the spectacled bear.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for brown bear vs. polar bear faceoff: cool facts on bear species revealed, then why not take a look at ancient Chinese crossbow facts: why was it so important and more, or 35 ancient civilizations facts that everyone will love!
Polar bears are the world’s largest carnivorous land mammals.
