Polar Bear vs Grizzly Bear: Which is More Powerful?

Grizzly bears and polar bears are two of the largest bears on the planet and are closely related. Genetically, they aren't very different; scientists believe that polar bears diverged from grizzly bears between 250,000 and 130,000 years ago, making them the most closely related of all bear species. Despite this close relationship, they exhibit significant differences. Each species has evolved unique adaptations suited to their distinct environments, resulting in different diets, habits, and physical traits. Here’s a brief overview of the differences between polar bears and grizzly bears, as well as a consideration of which might prevail in a hypothetical encounter.

Polar Bear vs. Grizzly Bear: Key Facts

1. On average, polar bears are larger than grizzly bears, though the largest brown bears can be nearly as big as the largest polar bears.
2. Polar bears have paws adapted for swimming and walking on ice, while grizzlies have paws better suited for hunting and digging.
3. Grizzly bears hibernate, whereas only pregnant female polar bears do, and even then, their hibernation is not as deep as that of other animals.
4. Grizzlies have smaller home ranges compared to polar bears.
5. Polar bears consume significantly more meat than grizzly bears.
6. Currently, hunting polar bears or grizzly bears is prohibited in the Lower 48 states of the U.S

Table of Contents

      1. Physical Differences Between Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears

2. Behavioral Differences Between Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears
3. Regulations on Hunting Grizzly Bears and Polar Bears
4. Hybridization of Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears
5. Which Bear Would Win in a Fight?

1.Physical Differences between Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears

Let’s start with the obvious: polar bears have white coats, though their fur is actually transparent to let the sun warm their white skin. In contrast, grizzly bears have brown coats, often with blonde highlights or a silver-tipped appearance. Generally, polar bears are larger than grizzlies, ranging from around 8 feet to nearly 10 feet in length. The largest male polar bears can weigh up to 1,700 pounds, but they typically weigh between 600 and 1,200 pounds. The biggest grizzlies—referring to mainland grizzlies as opposed to coastal brown bears—are slightly smaller, starting around 4.5 feet and reaching just over 9 feet in length. Adult male grizzlies average upwards of 700 pounds. Coastal brown bears, including subspecies like Kodiak bears, can weigh nearly as much as polar bears.

A polar bear’s skull and nose are also longer than a grizzly’s. However, grizzlies have longer claws, which are better suited for digging. Polar bears’ paws are adapted for swimming, with fur-covered pads that provide a firmer grip on ice. Additionally, polar bears have smaller ears and shorter legs than grizzlies. Both bears have a life expectancy of around 25 years and can walk on their hind legs.

 

2.Behavioral Differences between Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears

Not all polar bears hibernate—only pregnant females do, and even then, their hibernation is not as deep as that of other bears. In contrast, grizzlies hibernate for two to seven months each year, depending on the climate. Female polar bears and grizzlies both raise their young for two years before the cubs go off on their own, with males of both species not involved in raising the cubs.

Grizzlies are more omnivorous than polar bears, with only about 10 percent of their diet consisting of meat. Polar bears, lacking access to plants, primarily eat meat from marine mammals like seals and whales, though they will also eat birds' eggs and other available food when necessary.

Grizzlies have home ranges of 50 to 150 square miles for females and up to 600 square miles for males. Polar bears, on the other hand, can travel much larger distances, ranging between 19,000 and 135,000 square miles depending on food availability and mates. Unlike some animals, polar bears are not territorial, and generally, neither are grizzlies.

3.Regulations on Hunting Grizzly Bears and Polar Bears 

Polar bear hunting is tightly regulated and typically based on harvest quotas for communities in polar bear regions. These hunts, which can cost $50,000 or more, are nearly impossible to undertake without an outfitter, though success rates are high. Polar bears are hunted from late February into the spring, during either the "light" season (when the sun never sets) or the "dark" season (when the sun never rises). Temperatures during these hunts can drop below -25 degrees F. Outfitters use dog sleds to traverse the ice in search of bears, and snowmobiles to transport gear to and from base camp.

Grizzlies can be hunted in Alaska, the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, and the Yukon in Canada. They cannot be hunted anywhere in the Lower 48 states. Most nonresident grizzly hunts are organized by outfitters. Hunters pursue grizzlies in both spring and fall, using bait or the spot-and-stalk method with bows or rifles. Prices for these hunts start at around $12,000 and can go higher.

4.Hybridization of Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears

Pizzlies and grolars aren’t imaginary creatures from Napoleon Dynamite’s sketchbook; they are real grizzly/polar bear hybrids that occasionally appear where the two species' ranges overlap. Due to a warming Arctic, these overlaps are becoming more frequent.

Grizzlies and polar bears are closely related and have similar mating schedules. In the spring, male grizzlies and polar bears roam extensively in search of mates. Sometimes, they find themselves in regions where their own species are scarce and end up mating with females of the other species. Unfortunately, these hybrid bears are not well adapted to the habitats of either grizzly bears or polar bears.

5.Which Bear Would Win in a Fight?

The question on everyone's mind is which of these massive bears would win in a fight. Given that polar bears are larger and more carnivorous, they might seem like the obvious choice. However, a 2015 study suggests otherwise.

Researchers observed interactions between polar bears and grizzlies at the site of a beached whale carcass. They found that polar bears were more likely to walk away when confronted by grizzlies. This behavior is likely a strategic decision by the polar bears to conserve energy, as they are accustomed to enduring long periods without food.