To truly grasp how fast a bear can run, let’s start with a familiar benchmark: Usain Bolt. During a race in Berlin in 2009, Bolt achieved a world record in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 9.58 seconds. At his peak, he reached a speed of 27.8 mph between the 60 and 80-meter marks. While his average sprint speed is around 24 mph, and the average human sprinter hits about 17 mph, even the world’s fastest human is no match for a bear. If someone in a bar confidently bets that Bolt could outrun a bear, it’s a bet you should take without hesitation. A grizzly bear can reach speeds of 35 mph, a pace that is, quite literally, inhumanly fast. Even a black bear, with a top speed of 30 mph, is quicker than the fastest person on Earth.
Furthermore, human sprinters can only maintain their top speed for a fleeting moment or two. Grizzly bears, however, have been recorded sustaining speeds between 25 to 28 mph for as long as two miles. Black bears, though slightly slower over distance at around 25 mph, can also maintain a high pace for extended periods. Adding to the challenge, contrary to some misconceptions, bears are just as fast running downhill as they are uphill.
Table of Contents
- Exploring Bear Species: How Many Types Are There?
- Polar Bear Speed: Prowess on Ice and Land
- Grizzly Bear Speed: The Apex Predator’s Sprint
- Black Bear Speed: Surprisingly Quick and Agile
- Bear Attack Survival: Essential Strategies
Exploring Bear Species: How Many Types Are There?
Globally, there are eight distinct species of bears roaming our planet. While you might think of the koala “bear,” it’s important to note that koalas are marsupials, carrying their young in pouches, and are not true bears. The name “koala bear” arose from early colonists due to a superficial resemblance to bears, but their correct name is simply koala.
Decoding Bear Speeds: A Species-by-Species Look
Here’s a breakdown of the eight bear species and their estimated top speeds:
- North American black bear: The most widespread bear species globally, capable of reaching speeds of 30 mph.
- Asiatic black bear: Slightly smaller than North American black bears and adept at tree climbing, with a top speed of 25 mph.
- Brown bear: The broader category encompassing grizzly bears, known for speeds up to 35 mph.
- Polar bear: Primarily inhabiting the Arctic Circle, they are the largest bear species and the biggest land-based carnivores, running at 25 mph.
- Giant panda: Native to China and primarily bamboo eaters, pandas can reach speeds of 20 mph.
- Sloth bear: Found in the Indian subcontinent, feeding on fruits, ants, and termites, with a speed of 20 mph.
- Sun bear: The smallest bear species, residing in Southeast Asian tropical forests and also tree-dwelling, they can run at 30 mph.
- Spectacled bear: The only bear native to South America, mainly herbivorous, found in the Andes Mountains, and capable of 30 mph speeds.
Polar Bear Speed: Prowess on Ice and Land
Polar bears, masters of the Arctic, can easily outpace humans both on land and in water. Image depicts a polar bear walking across a snowy ice field.
Polar Bear Top Speed: 25 mph
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus), the largest bear and the biggest terrestrial carnivore, reigns supreme in the Arctic Circle. While they’ve been recorded running at 25 mph, this is generally for short bursts. As specialized seal hunters, they are powerful swimmers, but their large size means they overheat quickly during prolonged sprints. Their typical walking speed is similar to humans, around 3.5 mph, and they can swim at an impressive 6 mph. To put this in perspective, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps reached approximately 4.7 mph in the 200-meter freestyle.
The largest polar bear ever documented, according to Guinness World Records, was shot in Alaska in 1960. It weighed a staggering 2,209 lbs and stood 10 ft, 4 inches tall. This massive specimen is currently displayed outside a coffee shop in the former Historic Commercial Hotel in Elko, Nevada.
Due to their substantial size and weight, polar bears are prone to overheating when sprinting, limiting their high-speed pursuits. They spend much of their lives on sea ice, reflected in their Latin name Ursus maritimus, meaning “maritime bear.” Scientists believe their unique gait might provide better balance on icy surfaces. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt seals, their primary food source. The alarming decline of sea ice due to climate change is already significantly impacting polar bear populations.
One remarkable polar bear swim lasted over nine days, covering 425 miles—the distance from Washington, D.C., to Boston—in the Beaufort Sea, an area experiencing sea ice loss. A 2011 study revealed that the bear lost 22 percent of her body weight during this epic swim, and tragically, lost a cub accompanying her. Scientists are observing that polar bears are increasingly forced to swim longer distances as sea ice diminishes.
The current global polar bear population is estimated at around 22,000, residing in five countries: the U.S., Russia, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, and Canada. Polar bears are believed to have evolved from a brown bear population isolated in Siberia during the Pleistocene epoch. Their molar teeth show significant differences compared to brown bears, reflecting their adaptation to a specialized diet and Arctic environment.
Grizzly Bear Speed: The Apex Predator’s Sprint
Trying to outrun a grizzly bear is a dangerous proposition, given their incredible speed and power. Image features a grizzly bear walking in a natural setting.
Grizzly Bear Top Speed: 35 to 40 mph
Brown bears (Ursus arctos) inhabit a vast range across Eurasia and North America, including regions of Russia, China, Scandinavia, Iran, and Romania. Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) are a North American subspecies of brown bear, primarily found in Alaska and Canada, with smaller populations in Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. The total grizzly population is estimated to be around 60,000.
Within North America, there are three other brown bear types: the Kodiak bear, the Kamchatka bear, and the peninsular grizzly. The largest grizzly bear ever hunted was a Kodiak bear weighing an astounding 1700 lbs, displayed at the Anchorage Airport. The largest Kodiak bear in captivity, named Clyde, lived in a Bismarck, North Dakota zoo, reaching 2,130 lbs at his death at age 22. He was thought to have weighed even more—2,400 lbs—a year prior, with fat measured at 9 inches thick.
Grizzlies are distinguished from black bears by several features. They possess a prominent muscle hump on their backs, aiding in digging for roots, insects, and den construction. Grizzlies have a “dished in” facial profile with short, rounded ears, whereas black bears have straighter faces and longer, pointier ears. A grizzly’s rump is lower than its shoulders when standing, while a black bear’s rump is higher. Close up, grizzly bears also have longer claws, measuring 2-4 inches compared to a black bear’s 1-2 inches, though approaching closely is strongly discouraged.
Both black and grizzly bears can climb trees, making tree-climbing an ineffective escape strategy. While black bears are more naturally inclined to climb, a grizzly bear pursuing prey will readily climb trees. Scientists suggest that this arboreal ability helped black bears survive mega-predators like saber-tooth tigers and dire wolves during their evolution, when other ground-dwelling bear species went extinct. Encounters with brown bears are statistically 20 times more likely to result in injury compared to black bear encounters, according to the National Bear Center.
Grizzly bears evolved in open, treeless environments. Their survival strategy has always been to confront and neutralize threats directly. Being confronted by a grizzly bear can be an extremely dangerous situation.
Black Bear Speed: Surprisingly Quick and Agile
A black bear’s speed can easily outmatch any human, highlighting their agility and quickness. Image shows a black bear walking through a forest.
Black Bear Top Speed: 30 mph
The black bear (Ursus americanus) is native to North America and shares a closer evolutionary relationship with the Asiatic black bear than with grizzlies or polar bears. While other Ice Age mega-predators like larger short-faced bears, saber-tooth tigers, and dire wolves went extinct, the adaptable, omnivorous black bear has persisted, occupying most of its historical forested range.
The largest black bear on record was a male from New Brunswick, shot in 1972. Its dressed weight was 902 lbs, suggesting a live weight of around 1,100 lbs. In 1921, an 899-lb black bear, known for killing livestock, was shot in Arizona. In recent years, hunters have harvested several bears exceeding 800 lbs, even in regions like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where black bears were nearly eradicated in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Around a decade ago, a black bear study challenged the common belief that mother bears with cubs are the most dangerous. Analyzing 63 fatal black bear attacks between 1902 and 2011, the study found that 88 percent involved bears “on the prowl, likely hunting for food,” and a staggering 92 percent of these were male.
The study’s lead author, Stephen Herrero, noted that mother bears are more likely to display aggressive but non-fatal behaviors like swatting the ground and false charging. “They want to make you think they’ll eat you alive, but they’ll almost always stop.” Their primary concern is protecting their cubs, not attacking humans.
American black bears are intelligent and dexterous, capable of feats like opening screw-top jars—a skill some humans take years to master. Like all bears, they possess incredible strength. A documented instance showed a 120-pound juvenile black bear overturning flat rocks weighing 310-325 lbs using a single paw.
Bear Attack Survival: Essential Strategies
Between 2000 and 2017, there were only 48 fatal bear attacks in North America, according to Alaska News Source. Black bears were responsible for 25 attacks, and grizzly bears for 21. Given that black bears outnumber grizzlies by a factor of 15 (approximately 900,000 black bears in North America versus roughly 60,000 grizzlies), it’s clear that individual grizzly bears pose a significantly higher risk than individual black bears. The National Park Service advises that if you encounter a bear, speak to it calmly to identify yourself as human, not prey. Maintain your ground, try to reach higher ground to appear larger, and slowly wave your arms. If a bear stands on its hind legs, it’s usually out of curiosity.
Running away triggers a bear’s predatory instincts, as it mimics prey behavior. Screaming can have the same effect. Instead, continue speaking in a low voice and move away slowly, ideally at an angle rather than directly retreating. Sideways movement is generally perceived as less threatening by bears, while direct retreat is more likely to be interpreted as prey fleeing.
Read Next: Video: Why Did This Giant Black Bear Emerge from His Den So Early?
Surviving a Grizzly Bear Attack: Key Actions
- If a grizzly bear attacks, keep your backpack on to protect your back and play dead.
- Lie flat on your stomach, clasp your hands behind your neck to shield it, and spread your feet wide to prevent the bear from easily rolling you over.
- Remain motionless. You may sustain injuries, but the bear will typically leave once you cease to react. Fighting back often intensifies the attack.
- If the attack persists or the bear returns, fight back with maximum force, targeting the bear’s face.
Surviving a Black Bear Attack: Key Actions
- As with a grizzly, speak calmly, wave your arms slowly, and try to appear as large as possible. For mothers with cubs, give them ample space and retreat slowly while speaking calmly.
- Shout at the bear, throw rocks, and seek refuge in a car or building if possible, all while maintaining eye contact with the bear. Do not turn and run.
- If a black bear attacks, fight back aggressively using any available object, aiming blows at the bear’s face and muzzle.
- NEVER PLAY DEAD with a black bear.
If any bear attacks you inside your tent or stalks you before attacking, fight back immediately with everything you have. Such attacks are rare but extremely dangerous, as the bear is likely seeking food and sees you as prey. If you are with people who underestimate the danger of bears, it’s crucial to remove yourself from that situation quickly. Numerous online videos show individuals disregarding bear safety guidelines, often influenced by unrealistic portrayals in media.
