The 3 Largest Bears in the United States Are Massive Forces of Nature

There are eight living species of bear found around the world. In addition to these species, there are also numerous subspecies. These various species and subspecies have all developed unique traits to help them survive in different environments. You can find bears in a myriad of habitats, including mountains, plains, forests, woodlands, riparian zones, and swamps. No matter where they live, these bears share a few traits, namely their incredible size and power.

Although they once lived throughout the United States, bears now mostly inhabit remote areas in rural parts of the country. Still, bears remain among the most common and widespread large predators in the U.S. But exactly how large are these bears? Keep reading to learn more about the three largest bears in the United States.

The 3 Largest Bears in the United States

You can find three bear species in the United States: American black bears, brown bears, and polar bears. Of these three, only black bears and brown bears live within the continental United States. However, only a relatively small population of brown bears lives in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington; most of the country’s brown bears are found in Alaska. All polar bears in the United States reside along Alaska’s Arctic coastline and on the surrounding sea ice.

Black Bears

Historically, you could find American black bears (Ursus americanus) throughout the United States and they are still the most widely distributed bear species. American black bears inhabit a wide variety of environments across more than 30 states, including forests, swamps, mountains, and lowlands in both the Eastern and Western U.S. As their name implies, black bears typically appear black or dark brown. However, they can also be shades of cinnamon, blonde, or dark blue. Black bears are omnivores that primarily eat plant matter such as nuts, berries, fruits, and grasses.

Black bears are stocky animals with relatively straight profiles. They have short tails and short, curved claws well-adapted to climbing trees. American black bears are the smallest bear species in the country. On average, male black bears weigh between 125 and 500 pounds and measure 4 to 6 feet long. Females typically weigh 90 to 375 pounds and measure 3 to 5 feet long. However, some adult black bears can grow larger. On rare occasions, they can reach nearly 8 feet in length and weigh more than 700 pounds.

Brown Bears

Many biologists now use the term “brown bears” to refer to bears that live along the Alaskan coasts. This naming convention can be confusing because coastal brown bears, inland brown bears, and Kodiak brown bears are all the same species, Ursus arctos. However, inland bears have their own subspecies, Ursus arctos horribilis, or grizzly bears. Kodiak bears, which live on Alaska’s Kodiak Archipelago, are sometimes referred to as coastal brown bears. However, because they are isolated from other bears, they are classified as their own subspecies, Ursus arctos middendorffi. Take an in-depth look at these two subspecies of brown bears below.

Grizzly Bears

Inland brown bears, or grizzly bears, used to roam throughout the central and western United States. However, habitat loss and overharvesting drove grizzly bears out of much of their native range. Today, grizzlies inhabit just a few isolated areas of the continental United States. These include Yellowstone National Park, Western Montana, and Northwestern Washington state. By far, the largest population of grizzly bears lives in Alaska. Grizzlies are omnivores and their diet changes seasonally depending on availability.

They range from light to dark brown, although other color variations exist. They have silver or gray streaks in their fur, giving them a “grizzled” appearance. They have a distinctive hump and a more concave profile than black bears. They are the largest bears found in the continental United States, but are typically smaller than coastal brown bears and Kodiak bears. Female grizzlies generally weigh between 290 and 400 pounds. Males are substantially larger, with most weighing between 400 and 800 pounds. Most adult grizzly bears measure between 6.5 and 8 feet in length. Exceptionally large individuals can exceed 1,000 pounds and stand over 9 feet tall.

Kodiak Brown Bears

As mentioned above, Kodiak bears get their name from their geographic distribution, as they only live on Alaska’s Kodiak Archipelago. In terms of appearance, Kodiak bears appear very similar to other brown bears. However, Kodiak bears can grow exceptionally large. This is primarily due to their isolated island habitat, which provides abundant food and little competition. Kodiak bears are omnivores, primarily eating salmon supplemented with plant matter such as berries, grasses, and roots.

Kodiak bears typically weigh between 660 and 1,400 pounds, but some large individuals can weigh over 1,500 pounds. They stand 3 to 5 feet tall when on all fours and up to 10 feet tall when standing upright. This makes them roughly comparable in size and weight to many polar bears. Kodiak bears are the largest brown bear subspecies and the second-largest bears in the world, after polar bears.

Polar Bears

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest species of bear in the United States. While most polar bears live within the Arctic Circle, a smaller population lives along the Arctic coastlines of Northern Alaska. In addition to being the largest bear, it is also the most predatory. Polar bears have an almost exclusively carnivorous diet, consisting primarily of seals. However, they will also consume fish and the carcasses of walruses and whales.

To help them blend into their environment, polar bears have evolved white fur. Their small ears and tails help them conserve body heat, while their large, partially webbed paws help them walk on snow and swim. Adult male polar bears typically weigh between 600 and 1,200 pounds. However, the largest individuals can weigh more than 1,700 pounds. Females typically weigh between 400 and 700 pounds. Polar bears reach up to 5 feet on all fours and can stand 8 to 10 feet tall when upright.