Bears captivate human imagination with their size and strength. Their stature varies across species, influenced by age, sex, and environment. When considering the “biggest” bear, measurements can refer to weight, standing height, or overall length. This article explores the largest bears, both prehistoric and modern.
The Colossal Prehistoric Bear
The Giant Short-Faced Bear, Arctodus simus, was one of the largest bears to have ever walked the Earth. This extinct bear inhabited North America during the Pleistocene epoch, from approximately 800,000 to 12,500 years ago. Its remains have been discovered across a vast range, from Alaska and Canada down to Mexico, and across western states to Florida and Virginia.
Arctodus simus was the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivore in North America. Adult males typically weighed around 625 kilograms (1,378 pounds), with larger individuals reaching up to 957 kilograms (2,110 pounds). Some research suggests the largest males could have exceeded 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds).
Standing on its hind legs, the Giant Short-Faced Bear could reach 2.4 to 3.4 meters (8 to 11 feet). Its vertical arm reach extended up to 4.3 meters (14.1 feet). On all fours, its shoulder height ranged from 1 to 1.67 meters (3.3 to 5.5 feet).
This bear possessed long legs and a powerful build, contributing to its speed, estimated over 64 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour). Its physical characteristics, including a short snout and robust teeth, suggest a highly carnivorous diet. Some theories propose it may have been an omnivore or scavenger.
Giants of the Modern World
In the modern world, two bear species contend for the title of largest living bear: the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) and the Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi).
Polar bears are the largest extant species of bear by body mass. Adult male polar bears weigh between 300 and 800 kilograms (660 to 1,760 pounds), while females range from 150 to 300 kilograms (330 to 660 pounds). An exceptionally large male recorded in 1960 weighed 1,002 kilograms (2,209 pounds) and stood nearly 3.7 meters (12 feet) tall on its hind legs. These animals inhabit the Arctic regions, including Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Norway.
The Kodiak bear, a distinct subspecies of brown bear, is another contender for the largest living bear. Found exclusively on the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in southwest Alaska, these bears are large terrestrial carnivorans. Adult male Kodiak bears weigh between 272 and 635 kilograms (600 to 1,400 pounds), with mature males averaging around 477 to 534 kilograms (1,052 to 1,177 pounds). Females weigh between 181 and 318 kilograms (399 to 701 pounds). A large male Kodiak bear can stand over 3 meters (10 feet) tall on its hind legs and approximately 1.5 meters (5 feet) at the shoulder. While the largest wild Kodiak bear recorded weighed 751 kilograms (1,656 pounds), a captive male named “Clyde” reached 966 kilograms (2,130 pounds). Polar bears generally hold the record for average size and overall largest recorded individual.