The polar bear, or Ursus maritimus, is the world’s largest terrestrial predator. These bears inhabit the Arctic’s ice-covered waters, where their immense bulk provides insulation and power for hunting. They survive in this unforgiving environment due to a thick layer of fat and dense fur that contributes substantially to their overall mass. While stories of colossal individuals have circulated for centuries, scientific documentation offers a precise look at the species’ absolute size limit.
The Largest Verified Polar Bear
The largest polar bear reliably documented was a male specimen shot in northwestern Alaska, near Kotzebue Sound, in the autumn of 1960. Its weight was officially recorded at 2,209 pounds (1,002 kilograms). This massive size is an outlier, representing the physical extreme for the species, likely achieved due to optimal conditions and advanced age. The male bear reportedly stood over 11 feet tall when measured on its hind legs, showcasing a stature few other land carnivores can match.
Although the animal was not captured by scientists, the 1960 measurement serves as the benchmark for the polar bear’s maximum size. It is believed the bear had recently gorged on seals, as a polar bear’s weight can fluctuate dramatically throughout the year. The ability of a male to accumulate such vast fat and muscle is a testament to the richness of the seal-hunting grounds it inhabited.
Understanding Average Polar Bear Size
The colossal weight of the record-holding bear must be viewed in the context of the species’ average dimensions. Adult male polar bears typically weigh between 770 and 1,500 pounds (350 to 680 kilograms). They measure about eight to ten feet in length from nose to tail and stand approximately five feet high at the shoulder.
Female polar bears exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, meaning they are substantially smaller than males. A mature female usually weighs between 330 and 660 pounds (150 to 300 kilograms). A pregnant female can gain hundreds of pounds in preparation for denning, sometimes reaching weights of up to 1,100 pounds. The 2,209-pound record bear was nearly twice the weight of a typical large male and several times heavier than an average female.
The Context of Extreme Size Claims
Reports of polar bears weighing over one ton (2,000 pounds) have circulated, but most lack verified documentation. The Kotzebue Sound bear is the only one to exceed this threshold with a widely accepted measurement. Claims of even larger bears, such as those approaching 2,500 pounds, usually stem from anecdotal accounts or older measurements taken before standardized scientific methods were established.
Historical estimations were often made by hunters who relied on less precise tools than modern scales, sometimes simply guessing the weight of an animal based on its hide or general appearance. For example, a large, scientifically-verified male polar bear measured in Canada in 1985 weighed 1,785 pounds, which is still notably less than the 1960 record. Biological factors, such as the availability of high-calorie seal blubber and the bear’s age, limit how large an individual can grow, making reports far exceeding 2,209 pounds biologically improbable.