Polar Bear vs Grizzly Bear: Who Would Win?

Arctic giant meets inland powerhouse — the ultimate bear showdown

When it comes to bears, two species stand at the top: the polar bear and the grizzly bear.

One rules the frozen Arctic, the largest land carnivore on Earth. The other dominates North America's wilderness, known for its ferocious temperament and incredible strength.

Both are apex predators. Both are massive. But if these two titans faced off, who would win?

Let's analyze the stats, compare their weapons, and determine which bear comes out on top.

Meet the Fighters

🐻‍❄️ The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

Polar bears are the largest land carnivores in the world. They're built for hunting seals on Arctic ice, but they're more than capable of taking down much larger prey when necessary.

Physical Stats:

- Length: 7.25-8 feet (males)

- Weight: 900-1,600 lbs (males, average 1,000 lbs)

- Height: 5-6 feet at shoulder

- Standing height: 8-10 feet

- Top Speed: 25 mph

Weapons:

- 42 teeth, including 2-inch canines

- 5-inch claws (longer than grizzly)

- Bite force: 1,200 PSI

- Powerful forelimbs (can decapitate a seal with one swipe)

Fighting Style:

Polar bears are solitary hunters who rely on strength and power. They're less experienced fighting other bears but are built to kill large prey. Their long neck and skulls are adapted for biting through thick seal blubber and crushing bone.

Weaknesses:

- Less agile than grizzlies

- Less aggressive (more cautious)

- Adapted for ice/snow, not rough terrain

- Can overheat in warm climates

🐻 The Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Grizzly bears (a subspecies of brown bear) are legendary for their aggression and fighting ability. They're smaller than polar bears but have a reputation as the most dangerous bears in North America.

Physical Stats:

- Length: 6.5-7 feet

- Weight: 400-790 lbs (males, average 600 lbs)

- Height: 3.5-4.5 feet at shoulder

- Standing height: 6.5-8 feet

- Top Speed: 35 mph

Weapons:

- 42 teeth, including 2-inch canines

- 3-4 inch claws (shorter but curved)

- Bite force: 975 PSI

- Muscular shoulder hump (provides power for digging and striking)

Fighting Style:

Grizzlies are highly aggressive and experienced fighters. Males battle regularly during mating season, and grizzlies defend territory fiercely. They're fast, agile, and willing to fight to the death.

Weaknesses:

- Smaller than polar bears

- Less bite force

- Shorter reach

Tale of the Tape

The Critical Factors

Size Difference

This is huge. A large male polar bear can weigh twice as much as an average grizzly (1,600 lbs vs 790 lbs). Even an average polar bear at 1,000 lbs outweighs most grizzlies by 400+ pounds.

In animal combat, size matters enormously. The polar bear can simply overpower the grizzly with brute force.

Weapons

Polar Bear:

- Longer claws (5 inches vs 3-4 inches)

- Stronger bite (1,200 PSI vs 975 PSI)

- Longer neck and skull (better reach)

Grizzly:

- Faster attacks (35 mph charge vs 25 mph)

- More curved claws (better for grappling)

- Shorter, more compact build (lower center of gravity)

The polar bear has superior weapons, but the grizzly's are no joke. One swipe from either bear can cause fatal damage.

Fighting Experience

This is where the grizzly shines. Male grizzlies fight regularly — for territory, food, and mates. They're battle-hardened and aggressive.

Polar bears, on the other hand, rarely fight each other. They're mostly solitary and only come together to mate or compete over seal carcasses. When they do fight, it's usually posturing and bluff charges.

Speed & Agility

The grizzly is significantly faster (35 mph vs 25 mph) and more agile. It can dodge, turn quickly, and strike from different angles. The polar bear is more lumbering and straight-forward.

Historical Evidence

Polar bears and grizzlies don't naturally overlap in range, but climate change is pushing them closer together. There have been documented encounters:

Real-World Observations

- Zoo conflicts: In the few recorded captive encounters, polar bears typically dominate due to size

- Wild sightings: Rangers in northern Canada have observed polar bears displacing grizzlies from kill sites

- Hybrid bears: "Pizzly" or "grolar" bears (polar-grizzly hybrids) exist in the wild where ranges overlap, proving they can interbreed

Expert Opinions

Most bear researchers agree:

- Size advantage matters — The polar bear's mass is a huge factor

- But grizzlies are tougher pound-for-pound — More aggressive and experienced

- Outcome depends on circumstances — Terrain, temperature, and which bear is more desperate

The Verdict: Who Would Win?

The polar bear wins most of the time, but it's closer than the stats suggest.

Our Call: Polar Bear wins 7 out of 10 times

Here's the breakdown:

Polar bear advantages:

- Overwhelming size — 400-800 lbs heavier on average

- Longer reach — Longer neck, longer claws

- Stronger bite — 20% more PSI

- Intimidation factor — Simply bigger and more imposing

Grizzly advantages:

- Speed and agility — 40% faster, more maneuverable

- Fighting experience — Battles regularly, knows combat tactics

- Aggression — More willing to commit to a fight

- Compact build — Harder to knock down

Why the polar bear usually wins:

The size difference is just too much to overcome. A 1,200-1,600 lb polar bear can absorb punishment and deliver devastating strikes. The grizzly would need to fight a perfect tactical battle to win.

When the grizzly might win:

- If it's a small polar bear (900 lbs) vs a large grizzly (790 lbs) — much closer fight

- In very rough terrain where the grizzly's agility matters more

- If the grizzly lands early critical strikes to the face/eyes

- In warmer weather where the polar bear overheats

What About Different Brown Bears?

Kodiak Bear vs Polar Bear:

Kodiak bears (another brown bear subspecies) can reach 1,500 lbs — nearly as large as polar bears. This would be a 50/50 fight.

Siberian Brown Bear vs Polar Bear:

Siberian browns average 700-1,000 lbs. Slightly better than grizzly's chances, but polar bear still favored 6/10.

Environment Impact

Arctic ice/snow:

- Polar bear 8/10 (natural habitat, better traction)

Rocky mountain terrain:

- Grizzly 6/10 (more agile, better climber)

Flat open ground:

- Polar bear 7/10 (size advantage most pronounced)

Water:

- Polar bear 9/10 (excellent swimmer, grizzlies avoid deep water)

Create Your Own Polar Bear vs Grizzly Book

Want to see this epic bear battle illustrated?

→ Generate Polar Bear vs Grizzly Book (Free)

Get a complete battle book featuring:

- ✅ Full profiles of both bear species

- ✅ Tale of the Tape comparison

- ✅ Battle narrative with scientific analysis

- ✅ AI-generated illustrations

Or create another bear matchup: Brown Bear vs Black Bear? Grizzly vs Lion? Polar Bear vs Tiger?

Read the Official Book

Jerry Pallotta wrote this exact matchup!

📚 Polar Bear vs. Grizzly Bear on Amazon

One of the best books in the Who Would Win? series. Perfect for kids ages 6-10.

Related Battles

- Lion vs Tiger — Another iconic predator showdown

• Gorilla vs Bear — Primate strength vs bear power

- Tiger vs Bear — Cat agility vs bear durability

Fun Facts

Polar Bear:

- Polar bears are actually classified as marine mammals (they spend most of their life on sea ice)

- Their skin is black under their white fur (helps absorb heat)

- They can smell seals from 20 miles away

- Polar bears don't hibernate like other bears

Grizzly Bear:

- The name "grizzly" comes from "grizzled" (gray-tipped fur)

- They can run as fast as a horse (35 mph)

- Grizzlies can eat 90 lbs of food per day before hibernation

- Their bite can crush a bowling ball

Climate Change Connection

As the Arctic warms, polar bear and grizzly ranges are overlapping more. Scientists predict more encounters (and possibly more hybrids) in coming decades.

This makes the "who would win" question not just hypothetical — it might actually happen in the wild.

Sources

- Polar Bears International

- National Park Service: Grizzly Bear Facts

- National Geographic: Polar Bear, Grizzly Bear

- Smithsonian's National Zoo

- Bears of the World by Terry Domico

FightingBooks is a fan project inspired by Jerry Pallotta's Who Would Win? series. Support the official books!