The title of “biggest bear” is complex, as different measures of size lead to varying conclusions. To understand the contenders, it is helpful to explore how scientists evaluate a bear’s dimensions.
Defining Size in Bears
Determining the largest bear involves several metrics beyond visual estimation. Researchers commonly use measurements such as average weight, maximum recorded weight, and physical dimensions like standing height and length from nose to tail. Shoulder height, measured when the bear is on all fours, provides another important perspective. Skull size is also a key indicator, often used in record-keeping for trophy animals. These diverse measurements highlight that a bear considered largest by one metric might be surpassed by another when different criteria are applied.
The Polar Bear
The Polar Bear, Ursus maritimus, is the largest living bear species and the largest land carnivore. Adult males weigh between 272 to 544 kilograms (600 to 1,200 pounds) and measure 2.4 to 3.0 meters (8 to 10 feet) in length. Some large males can exceed 770 kilograms (1,700 pounds) and stand around 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall at the shoulder.
Their size is an adaptation to the Arctic environment, where large body mass conserves heat. A thick layer of blubber and dense fur aids insulation in frigid conditions. This build allows them to thrive hunting seals across sea ice in regions like Canada, Greenland, and Alaska.
The Kodiak Bear
The Kodiak bear, Ursus arctos middendorffi, is a brown bear subspecies and a contender for the largest living bear. Found exclusively on the Kodiak Archipelago off Alaska, their rich food supply, including salmon, contributes to their substantial size. Adult males weigh between 272 to 635 kilograms (600 to 1,400 pounds), with some reaching over 750 kilograms (1,650 pounds).
An average male Kodiak bear measures around 2.44 meters (8 feet) in length and stands about 1.33 meters (4 feet 4 inches) tall at the shoulder. While polar bears generally have a higher average weight, some Kodiak bears can exceed them in maximum recorded weight and skull size. The largest recorded brown bear skull belongs to a Kodiak bear, measuring 78.1 centimeters (30.7 inches).
Extinct Bear Giants
The Giant Short-Faced Bear, Arctodus simus, is an extinct species that inhabited North America during the Pleistocene epoch (2.6 million to 12,800 years ago). It is considered one of the largest terrestrial carnivores to have lived on the continent.
Large male Arctodus simus weighed between 700 to 800 kilograms (1,500 to 1,800 pounds), with some reaching up to 950 kilograms (2,090 pounds). Standing on hind legs, they could tower over 3.4 meters (11 feet) tall, and stood around 1.5 to 1.67 meters (5 to 5.5 feet) at the shoulder on all fours. Their remains have been found from Alaska and Yukon down to Mexico.