| Grizzly Bear | Polar Bear |
|---|---|
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| Wins 50.60% of 1k fights | Wins 49.40% of 1k fights |
Polar bears and their grizzly counterparts are some of the baddest bears on the planet. They are both enormous, equipped with similar weaponry, share similar temperaments, and are nearly identical in terms of intelligence. So, what would happen if these two beasts met face-to-face in a forest? Let's find out by examining each combatant and how they stack up in this week's Fantasy Brawl!
A fully grown Grizzly Bear can weigh up to 1,200 pounds and stand about 8 feet when on their hind legs. This massive animal is truly the stuff of nightmares in a fight, but its Arctic counterpart is even bigger. The Polar Bear can be as tall as 10 feet and weigh up to 1,500 pounds.
So, when it comes to size, the edge goes to the Ice Bear. Though size is not the only determining factor in a bout, it can play a huge role in how much bites, scratches, and other forms of attack impact an animal.
Personally, I wouldn't want to meet either of these monsters in a dark alley, but the answer to who is more aggressive may shock you. Logic would suggest that since Polar Bears live in more remote areas and are less likely to encounter humans, they would be less aggressive, but this isn't the case.
Grizzly Bears are more territorial than Polar Bears and will fight a human to defend their territory, but they don't actively seek us out as a food source. The frozen bears, on the other hand, are much more predatory in nature and have been known to hunt humans down if food is scarce enough.
Polar Bear attacks typically occur when there is a shortage of their primary food source. So, if there aren't many seals around, you will most certainly be on the menu if you get too close. Polar Bears are more likely to kill and eat you, whereas a Grizzly may attempt to scare you off from their territory.
Both are pretty aggressive, but attacking to defend your home or family is understandable. The Grizzly's motivation for physicality is somewhat justified, whereas the Polar Bear's, while understandable, is much more predatory. The edge for aggression goes to the Polar Bear.
Polar Bears have more size and, as a result, possess more muscle mass. This generally means they are stronger overall than smaller animals like Grizzly Bears. However, their builds are completely different as they've evolved to excel in their respective habitats.
Polar Bears have longer, more slender arms that help them swim long distances and topple large prey like seals. Grizzlies have shorter limbs that are more suited for powerful bursts of energy and durability as they often need to tear through wood and animal carcasses.
In a fight, the combatant with more endurance may be the victor, even if they possess less overall strength. Is the potential endurance advantage of the Grizzly enough to overcome the power gap it has with the Polar Bear? We'll find out soon.
Polar bears top out at around 25 mph in short bursts, while the smaller Grizzly hits nearly 35 mph. This makes the Grizzly Bear significantly faster than the Polar Bear on land. However, in the water, things are different.
As I mentioned before, Polar Bears were built for the water and can swim laps around their grizzlier counterparts. Both animals can outpace most humans on land, but the Grizzly is undeniably faster than the Polar Bear.
Given that there have been cases of Polar Bear and Grizzly hybrids, the two animals certainly have come into contact with each other. And if they're close enough to breed, they can certainly fight. An epic battle would likely ensue due to the Polar Bear moving south because of climate change and their need to find food.
In their southern travels, they are likely to encounter a big, angry brown bear, and a clash between the two alpha creatures could occur. I imagine the Grizzly would be the first to react since the Polar Bear would be the one encroaching on its territory.
Yes, there is actually a documented case of a Grizzly and Polar Bear duking it out. The fight happened in 2014 at Wapusk National Park in Canada. The cause of the dispute was likely the Polar Bear looking for a meal in the wrong neighborhood. In this real-life battle, the Grizzly Bear is reported to have emerged victorious.
Though Grizzlies are smaller, this confrontation occurred on its home turf. Brown bears are quicker and more agile and are better adapted to the terrain they were fighting on. This, and the fact that the Polar Bear was probably hungry and lacking calories, gave the Grizzly the edge.
But, what would happen if two fully fed, hydrated, and healthy bears met? The Fantasy Brawls battle simulator has analyzed both combatants' strengths, weaknesses, and abilities to determine the winner.
If a Polar Bear and Grizzly Bear met face-to-face in an open field, the Grizzly Bear is the one walking out with its fur intact (mostly). It's a very, very close battle with both combatants being nearly evenly matched. The reason the Grizzly wins in most cases is due to the terrain the battle takes place on.
A Polar Bear's body is specialized for the ice and terribly cold environments. While the Grizzly, being adaptable, wouldn't do well in such extreme conditions. So they are less likely to venture into an icy lake or completely frozen tundra where a Polar Bear is at its best.
Polar Bears, however, are known to spend time in non-icy areas, particularly when there isn't much ice left on the ground. This forces them to give up their advantage and places them at the mercy of the more terrestrially adept Grizzly. In the wild, the win goes to Grizz. But what would happen if they met in a neutral area, like a zoo or the UFC octagon?
If a negligent zookeeper left both the Polar Bear and Grizzly Bear's cages open at night and the two met in the food court, the battle could go either way. But without a terrain advantage, the Grizzly will likely succumb to the bigger, more powerful opponent.
It's a close match, but without a field advantage, Fantasy Brawls is giving the win to Ice Bear, and not just because he's my favorite character from *We Bare Bears*. If you love bears as much as I do, be sure to check out the fight between the mighty gorilla and the bear.
Posted by: Matt Irving on 09/16/2024
