Bears are one of the most powerful mammals on Earth. They have huge muscles that make them able to lift more than 1,100 pounds, which is about the weight of a small car. They’re able to kill large prey such as moose or even humans in some cases. Here we are going to talk about three different species: polar bears, grizzly bears, and black bears.
1.Polar Bears
Polar bears are stronger, bigger, and faster than most other bears. An adult polar bear can weigh up to 1300 pounds and this bear is said to be ten times stronger than humans. Polar bears have a bite strength of around 1200PSI. Since they’re so strong, lifting more than 1000 pounds of icebergs is no problem, and their jaws are strong enough to crush bones. Nature has gifted them with some exceptional abilities like a powerful smell, excellent swimming skills, and a repellent, thick fur that insulates them and protects them from the cold.
These amazing mammals are skilled predators equipped with five-toed feet and large paws that can grow up to 12 inches in diameter. They use their paws to balance their bodies, especially when looking for seals on ice, and for swimming too. They’re perfect as paddles in water and snowshoes on land. Since they live in the coldest part of the world, it’s no wonder polar bears are so strong with massive paws and legs. Polar bears have a keen sense of smell, they can smell food up to a mile away and can smell seal carcasses buried under three feet of ice!
2.Grizzly Bears
We, humans, are considered the smartest species of animals on the planet. While we can brag about our intelligence, when it comes to strength, we are not even close to some animals, such as the grizzly bear. According to professor Doug Cairns, from Montana State University, who was asked to conduct a study for a National Geographic documentary, grizzly bears are 2.5 to 5 times stronger than a human. And that’s without aggravating the bear. It’s a conservative estimate of a grizzly bear strength. A bear put in danger, or a mother bear protecting its cubs can project a lot bigger strength.
Grizzlies are so strong that they can crush a bull skull with one paw straw. They also have long paw claws, around 4 inches in length, which they use for digging, or for fighting other animals. The grizzly bear can bring other animals down with just a single swipe. There have been cases reported where a grizzly bear is dragging a full-grown moose just by itself. To put things in perspective, the average weight of a moose is around 800 pounds. And what’s even more impressive, the grizzly could drag the moose for a mile at least.
3.Black Bears
Black bears are much weaker than grizzly and polar bears, but they’re not weak. They’ve been observed flipping rocks that weigh 310 to 325 pounds (141 to 147 kg) pounds. They may look intimidating because of their size, but they don’t have the muscle mass that grizzly bears and polar bears have. This doesn’t mean that they can’t be dangerous, though – black bears can still inflict serious injuries if they feel threatened. Black bears aren’t the biggest, but also not the smallest, of the ursine species and, as such, are not considered as strong as their larger relatives grizzly and polar bears. They can still deliver a powerful bite, particularly if they are defending their cubs or territory. Their bites measure between 650 and 975 PSI.
Black bears paws swipes can be very strong and inflict a lot of damage. They routinely swipe at their prey. They can do a lot of damage especially when they “body slap” their victims. A black bear’s claws are not as long as a grizzly bear’s, but they are still incredibly powerful and can easily rip through flesh. Their claws typically measure less than 2 inches. Black bears use their claws for many activities, such as climbing trees, digging for food, and protecting themselves from danger. When facing a black bear, you should make yourself look intimidating. Stand tall and make loud noises. This will scare the bear away, as they’re not dominant creatures.
