This battle is not just theoretical, either. Several documented encounters exist between black and brown bears, especially subspecies of the brown bear— the grizzly and Kodiak bears. The bears have overlapping territories throughout North America, primarily in Canada and Alaska. So who’d be more likely to emerge the victor in an aggressive brown bear vs black bear encounter? We’re going to explore the various physical and instinctual factors that would influence a battle between these two and show you how it would play out.
Comparing a Black Bear vs Brown Bear
Key Differences Between Brown Bears and Black Bears
Brown bears are much larger than black bears and they weigh more on average. Brown bears are more aggressive and less willing to flee from a threat than black bears. Also, brown bears have a pronounced shoulder hump that black bears lack, indicating the vast strength of brown bears in digging and attacking. In short, brown bears are bigger, stronger, and more threatening than black bears. In terms of brown bear vs black bear comparisons, these are the main differences that can help a person tell these two animals apart from one another. The differences should be obvious, and a person should take measures to avoid these bears in any case.
The 7 Key Factors in a Fight Between Black Bear vs Brown Bear
Looking at the factors between a black and brown bear, it’s clear that they share many similarities. A quick glance at the raw numbers may make this seem like a close fight. That is why we are going to break down each of these characteristics point by point to show you which bear one will probably come out on top.
Black Bear vs Brown Bear: Size
A lot of battles in the wild are settled by a difference in size and weight. In a lot of cases, black bears are about half the weight of a brown bear, literally tipping the scales in favor of the brown bear. Their max standing size, just 6 feet for a black bear and over 9 feet for a brown bear also give the latter an edge. In the case of size, the brown bear gets the advantage.
Black Bear vs Brown Bear: Speed and Movement
The speed of a black bear and a brown bear is similar. The black bear can reach speeds of 30mph while the brown bear can charge at 35mph. They use this speed with a very similar gait to one another, running on all fours to catch prey. In the case of a battle between the two creatures, the brown bear’s extra speed would mean one thing: it decides when the fight is over and who gets to run away, if anyone. Brown bear gets the advantage.
Black Bear vs Brown Bear: Bite Power
The biting power of a black bear is substantial enough that it could land a fatal blow on many creatures by digging its 2.5-inch fangs into a vital area. Their power is eclipsed by the brown bear, especially the sub-species Grizzly bear that has a 1200 PSI bite power, and fangs that are slightly longer at 3 inches. The brown bear has the advantage in bite power and fang size.
Black Bear vs Brown Bear: Intelligence
Both the black and brown bears are very intelligent creatures. The difficulty is determining which of the two is more intelligent. By sheer brain size, brown bears have the edge. However, both bears are curious and know when they are fighting a losing battle. So, they knew when it’s time to run or not engage at all. In this category, the bears are too similar, with only the brown bear’s memory standing out as superior.
Black Bear vs Brown Bear: Sense
Both bears have powerful senses. The brown bear can hear twice as good as a person, roughly the same as a black bear. The brown bear can see clearer, farther, but both brown and black bears have amazing night vision capabilities that would ensure neither one gets the drop on the other. Both bears can smell a scent in the air from over a mile away. In this case, both creatures get a tie because none of their senses would give them an advantage; they’re too similar.
Black Bear vs Brown Bear: Offenses Capabilities
When it comes to fighting capabilities, black bears are well-armed. They have powerful jaws and sharp claws they can use to harm enemies. A combination of these elements is enough to kill predators, including armed human beings. Brown bears are much more dangerous, though. Their teeth are capable of inflicting an instantly fatal blow, and their powerful swipes can slash open their prey in seconds. The brown bears get the advantage in offensive capabilities.
Black Bear vs Brown Bear: Predatory Behavior
Black bears and brown bears are devastating predators that will kill using a similar strategy. Believe it or not, both bears stalk their prey before moving in unless they just happen across them. Their footsteps are nearly muted, meaning it’s incredibly hard to hear them coming. They will both wait and see if their prey is interesting before moving in, and they charge to them and quickly overwhelm their defenses. An interesting point here is that black bears that have decided to prey on something will pursue that thing and immediately kill it. Brown bears are somewhat similar. If they’re hungry, they’ll go in for the kill. If the black bear is just assessing a threat, though, it might run away entirely, bluff charge, or stalk some more while it makes a decision. Brown bears will attack a threat until it’s not a threat, sometimes allowing a person that is playing dead to survive a mauling.
Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Black Bear vs Brown Bear?
A brown bear would win a fight against a black bear. Evaluating the available data shows that few avenues for victory exist for the smaller, weaker black bear. Ignoring the cases where black bears have been killed by a brown bear, let’s break down how a fight would go. The two would certainly smell each other before the fight started, and they would know that their enemy is not backing down. If forced to fight, the two would charge at eat other, with the brown bear smashing into the black bear with several hundred pounds more weight in its favor. The brown bear would immediately have the advantage from the initial charge. Then it would rear up on its hind legs and swipe the black bear, which might seek to attack the stomach of the brown because that’s all it could reach. After slashing with its deadly claws, the brown bear would bring its full weight onto the black bear, becoming a furious flurry of bites and clawing. Bears kill by mauling, not by a single deadly strike like an ambush predator. The black bear would leave its mark on the brown bear, but the true fight would last mere minutes, and the brown bear would be the one leaving alive.
