Discover the 18 Strongest Bite Forces of Animals Found in the U.S.

The strongest bite force in the world has been discussed multiple times, as has the strongest bite force of any dog. Now, let’s take a look at the strongest bite force of any animal in the United States. Some of the contestants might come as a surprise to you.

Most of the animals’ bite forces in this article are measured by force per square inch, but you must also take into account the size of the animals inflicting the bite force. Some of the smaller animals may have a more impressive bite force than some of the largest animals on the list.

18. Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)

Bite Force: 350 psi

Size: 64 – 220 pounds and 2 – 3 feet at the shoulder with a length of 6.9 – 7.10 feet in length.

The bite force of a mountain lion is more than enough to get the job done, especially when you take into consideration their speed, size, and claws. Mountain lions are also excellent at stalking which is how they are able to land such hefty prey. They also sneak up on their target on foot, by swimming and in trees which makes knowing where to look difficult, especially in the dark.

17. Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)

Bite Force: 406 psi

Size: 66 – 180 pounds, 30 inches at the shoulder, and up to 6 feet long.

The grey wolf may not have as strong of a bite force as some of the animals on this list, but what they lack in bite force, they make up in other ways. Pack numbers assisting in the attack, size, and age of the wolf, speed, and power ultimately play into how severe a grey wolf’s attack might be.

16. Humbolt Squid (Dosidicus gigas)

Bite Force: 600 psi

Size: 100 pounds and up to 8.2 feet long.

These are certainly some very large and potentially frightening squid, but what can further their advantage in the wild in the number of squids who hunt with them. These deep-sea beasts are armed with lots of sharp teeth, speeds up to 15 mph, and a whole bunch of sticky suction cups. They are also sometimes called the red devil squid because they change to a bright red color when caught or evading predators. They really aren’t someone you want to mess with.

15. Cane Corso (Canis lupus)

Bite Force: 700 psi

Size: 88 – 110 pounds, 23 – 28 inches at the shoulder, and 41.5 – 55 inches long.

The cane corso is a very large dog with an impressive bite force, though it isn’t too far from the strongest bite force of a dog, belonging to the Kangal at 743 psi. The Corso is a dog that requires specific training and handling to ensure the safety of the owner. These dogs have been known to take down lions who have a bite force of 650 psi.

14. American Bandogge (Canis lupus)

Bite Force: 730 psi

Size: 85 – 150 pounds, 25 – 29 inches tall at the shoulder and 22 – 33 inches long.

The American bandogge is simply a mixed breed dog with a very powerful bite. The breeds used to create it are known to be affectionate and very protective. Specific training is important for these types of dogs, as is the education of the owner on what it takes to ensure the health and happiness of one.

13. Kangal (Canis lupus)

Bite Force: 763 psi

Size: 90 – 145 pounds, 28 – 32 inches at the shoulder, and 37 – 44 inches long.

The kangal is the dog with the strongest bite force. Humans have fought them against lions, which would still be an unfair fight because the lion is bigger, stronger, and has claws. These are technically livestock guardian dogs that kill wolves but have since become pets. They are loyal and gentle but, like all dogs, they should be watched around children.

12. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

Bite Force: 850 psi

Size: 180 – 1300 pounds, 2.3 – 5 feet tall at the shoulder, and 4.6 – 9.2 feet long.

The brown bear is not the bear with the most bite force or even the strongest bear, but it ranks close to midway on this list of the top bite forces, which isn’t bad at all. They are enormous and can run at speeds of up to 35 mph, which makes this one strong and ferocious animal you can’t outrun.

11. Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)

Bite Force: 1,004 psi

Size: 62 – 249 pounds and is 22 – 29 inches long.

Anything with “alligator” in its name is someone you may want to avoid, especially when swimming barefoot! This snapping turtle is massive and enjoys making farm ponds its home, which can be a death sentence for the livestock using the pond.

10. Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Bite Force: 1,160 psi

Size: 250 – 700 pounds, 40 inches tall at the shoulder, and 74 – 95 inches long.

Grizzlies have a lot going for them in the “things to fear” category. They are massive creatures, with claws that can kill and the ability to run 40 mph in short sprints. There isn’t much that will mess with a grizzly bear except another grizzly bear. With the amount of sheer terror surrounding grizzly bear encounters, one would think they would rank higher on this bite force list. It doesn’t make them much less scary considering their 2 – 4 inch claws capable of ripping a tree to shreds.

9. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

Bite Force: 1,200 psi

Size: 400 – 1700 pounds, 2.4 – 5 feet at the shoulder, and 8 – 10 feet long.

Polar bears are known to kill humans and can easily take one’s head off with a well aimed swipe, but they are apex predators doing what they need to in order to survive. These bears can also sprint 25 mph for short distances when needed.

8. Bull Shark (Carcharhinus Leucas)

Bite Force: 1,350 psi

Size: 200 – 500 pounds and are 7 – 11 feet long.

What makes bull sharks so dangerous is not necessarily their size or even their bite force, it’s their elevated testosterone levels that make them aggressive. One bite from a bull shark with its razor sharp teeth is all it would take. They can also swim in bursts of 25 mph. The bull shark and their not-so-distant relative, the tiger shark are known for their aggression towards humans and make up more attacks on humans than most other types of sharks. Bull sharks have been found with license plates and a myriad of strange not-so-tasty items in their stomachs suggesting they will literally eat anything.

7. Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Bite Force: 1,500 psi

Size: 150 – 200 pounds and up to 7 feet long.

Jaguars are the biggest cat in the Americas and have a much more severe bite than the mountain lion. These beautiful cats can reach speeds of 50 mph, so you better have a better plan than outrunning one. They are also very good swimmers and climbers making them an excellent apex predator. Jaguars are the big cat with the highest bite force, though they are not nearly as dangerous as their cousins, the tiger. This is mostly due to the tigers’ proximity to humans versus the human-timid leopard.

6. Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

Bite Force: 1,850 psi

Size: 1,800 – 4,400 pounds, and up to 12 feet long.

Walruses aren’t exactly quick on their flippers at 7 mph but they do have a serious bite for anyone who decides to fight them. They can run at bursts of 22 mph if needed. They fight other males with their enormous tusks that humans poach them for. These huge creatures prefer to eat mollusks like clams and lay in the sun, or on an ice shelf. The only area in the United States that you can see them is on the northwest coast.

5. American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Bite Force: 2,125 psi

Size: 9 – 15 feet long, and up to 1,000 pounds

There is a good reason why alligators have been in the world for so long and it isn’t because they are weak or slow. These enormous lizards can run up to 25 mph on land and swim 20 mph, which is faster than the bottle-nosed dolphin. The alligator can chomp animals or humans with its impressive bite force and snap our bones like twigs, literally. They can also bite through steel. These clever and mega stealth reptiles have another trick up their swampy sleeve, like their cousins the crocodile, they can snap down on a humans leg, then go into the destructive death spin and then drag the victim to the bottom of the bayou and drown them. Many times, a limb comes off when a gator goes into the deadly spin.

4. American Crocodile (Alligator mississippiensis)

Bite Force: 3,700 psi

Size: 300 – 2000 pounds and is 8 – 20 feet long

The American crocodile is one Florida creature that tops even the bull shark and alligator in bite force. Once their mouth is shut, it is next to impossible to force it open. They even swallow rocks to aid with digestion and help them sink to the bottom when in water. The bite force of a Tyrannasaurus Rex exceeds 12,800 psi. The prehistoric “limosine crocodile’s” bite force of 23,100 psi is more than the orca and even the least weasel, if it were bigger.

3. Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)

Bite Force: 4,100 psi

Size: Up to 4,500 pounds and is 11 – 20 feet long.

The great white shark is a top apex predator for its size, speed, sense of smell and razor sharp teeth. It can swim in short bursts up to 35 mph. They are not as aggressive as the bull shark but do have one of the top bite forces in the U.S. They also have 300 teeth arranged into seven rows, which is enough to do some deadly damage even if their bite force was minimal.

2. Orca (Orcinus orca)

Bite Force: 19,000 psi

Size: 8,000 – 11,000 pounds and is 18 – 33 feet long

The bite force is an estimated guess by marine biologists and scientists, though it could be even more. The orca has the highest psi of any bite force of any other animal in the U.S. They are capable of swimming up to 35 mph, which is the same as the great white. The orca is commonly called the killer whale because it is a whale and is definitely a killer. These whales have been filmed torturing other marine life for fun and have started attacking yachts, which you really can’t even blame them for doing.

1. Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis)

Bite Force: 1,000 psi

Size: 1 – 8.8 ounces, 1.8 – 2.75 inches tall at the shoulder, body length is 4.5 – 7.5 inches long with a tail that measures another .5 – 3.4 inches long and their width is 1.6 – 2.6 inches.

These tiny mammals are anything but “least” when it comes to bite force and ability to kill animals much larger than it. The only other animal with a higher bite force for its size is the Tazmanian devil, which is one you would expect. The least weasel only weighs a couple of ounces and is capable of crushing the spine of prey animals much larger than it is, like; chipmunks, rabbits, mice, squirrels, rats, voles, shrews and whatever else it can catch and take down. Their top speed is 7 mph which isn’t bad for such a tiny creature.

The least weasel’s bite force is just about the same as that of the alligator snapping turtle. Take into consideration that the alligator snapping turtle weighs an average of 175 pounds, whereas the least weasel only averages 2 ounces. If the least weasel was a bigger creature we would all be in big trouble.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Willyam Bradberry/Shutterstock.com