See Who Blinks First When a Grizzly Bear Stares Down a Stable of Horses

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Written by Eliana Riley

Updated: November 10, 2023

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Bear staring into camera
© Lubos Chlubny/Shutterstock.com

A grizzly bear stares down a few grazing horses in this ominous video. The video begins with a grizzly bear standing in an open field, with a dense forest in the background. As a group of horses graze in a pasture, they suddenly lock eyes with the menacing bear. Both the horses and the bear stand completely still.

The horses look away from the bear first, content with the confrontation. As the horses begin to graze again, the bear looks on, aiming to further intimidate the horses. However, the horses pay no mind to the bear’s threatening appearance, and the grizzly continues to feed on the field’s grasses without a care in the world.

White Camargue horse in the south of France. Horses raised in freedom in the middle of the Camargue bulls in the ponds of Camargue. Trained to be ridden by gardians.

Watch this video showing a group of horses and a grizzly bear engaging in a staring contest!

©ODIN Daniel/Shutterstock.com

Do Grizzly Bears Normally Attack and Eat Horses?

Horses are not common grizzly bear prey and they usually don’t show aggression towards them. However, if a bear becomes nervous or hungry, it may attack and feed on horses. In addition, grizzly bears are much faster than many people might believe. Despite their hulking demeanor, these mammals can run nearly as quickly as horses. While a horse would outrun a grizzly bear in most instances, it’s possible that a grizzly could catch up, making the horse its next meal.

5 Grizzly Bear Facts

  • Male bears may weigh up to 800 pounds!
  • Grizzlies don’t solely eat meat. These creatures are omnivores, feeding on plants and animals alike.
  • The name “grizzly” derives from the bear’s fur, which appears grizzled, as its hairs display white or silver tips.
  • During hibernation, female grizzly bears often give birth to their young.
  • In 1975, the U.S. Endangered Species Act listed grizzly bears as threatened.
Grizzly

Grizzly bears are fast, running at speeds of up to 35 or 40 miles per hour.

©A-Z-Animals.com/N/A

How Do Horses Defend Themselves?

If a horse detects a predator or other threat, it will flee before engaging in a physical altercation. Horses may attain a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour when running. However, most horses gallop at around 27 miles per hour. If the horse cannot outrun its predator, it will fight back. By kicking, striking, and biting, a horse can defend itself from an aggressor.

5 Horse Facts

  • Horses are measured by a unit called “hands,” which describes around four inches in length.
  • Horses can sleep while standing up!
  • More than 200 distinct horse breeds exist throughout the world.
  • The weight of a horse varies drastically among breeds. Some horses may weigh as little as 120 pounds while others can exceed 2,000 pounds!
  • The only true wild horse that exists today is called Przewalski’s horse. Other horses in the wild are considered feral, as they escaped domestication and established populations.
Animals that sleep standing up - horses in a field

Horses may sleep while standing up by locking their leg joints to avoid fatigue.

©malafo/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Eliana Riley is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on geography, travel, and landmarks. Eliana is a second-year student at Miami University majoring in English Education and Spanish. A resident of Tennessee and Ohio, Eliana enjoys traveling to national and state parks, hiking, kayaking, and camping.

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