On the one hand, bears have a reputation for being cute and cuddly. Think Paddington, Rupert and Winnie the Pooh.
On the other, they are hulking great predators with jaws so powerful they can readily crush a human skull. Not the smartest choice to race against, but should you find yourself trying to outrun a bear, what are your chances?
The short answer is not good. The longer answer is, still not good, but it depends on the bear. There are eight different species of bear. Perhaps unsurprising, the biggest three are the speediest.
Can a human outrun a bear?
According to Guinness World Records, the fastest bear ever recorded was a polar bear, who was clocked tanking down a road in Churchill, Canada, at an impressive 40 miles per hour. Brown bears (which include Grizzlies and Kodiaks) and black bears may be smaller, but at top speeds of over 30 miles per hour, they too could be fined for speeding in a built up area.
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Panda bears may be famously docile, but when threatened, they also can get a shimmy on. Over short distances, the bamboo-munching beauties can move at speeds of 20 to 25 miles per hour, which is not dissimilar to the misleadingly named sloth bear. Sloth bears, which are native to the Indian subcontinent, may be named after sloths but they’re not closely related and can move much faster.
Whilst most bears would struggle to maintain their top speeds over any prolonged distance, only a muppet would try to outpace one. Most humans can’t sprint faster than 15 miles per hour. Instead, if you do find yourself face to face with angry bear, experts caution against relying solely on the infamous ‘three bear rule.”
This states, “if it’s brown, lay down; if it’s black, fight back; if it’s white, goodnight.” The problem here is that fur colour can be misleading. Black bears can be brown, and grizzlies can appear black. Better instead, to react to the bear’s behaviour.
Bluff charges, when a bear puffs up and bounds towards a person, are best dealt with by remaining composed. Back away slowly, whilst talking loudly and steadily in a calm voice. This is meant to reassure the bear that you are a non-threatening human.
Running is not advised because it can trigger an aggressive charge which, whilst less common, is far more dangerous. Warning signs of an aggressive charge include the bear yawning, huffing or clacking its teeth while pounding its front paws on the ground. Then and only then, if the bear starts tanking towards you, it’s time to obey the three bear rule.
The National Park Service advises “If a black bear charges and attacks you, FIGHT BACK WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! If a grizzly / brown bear charges and attacks you, PLAY DEAD. Do not fight back.”
And if that all sounds too daunting, just be glad that we’re not in the last Ice Age, when the world’s largest bear was alive. Standing over 4 metres tall, the carnivorous Arctotherium angustidens weighed up to 2,000 kilograms. This makes it more than twice the size of even the biggest polar bear.
- It weighs as much as a car, can sprint at 30mph, has dinner-plate paws armed with 3in claws – and jaws powerful enough to crush a human skull like an egg
- Larger and considerably more powerful than humans, they can run at an impressive 50KPH as well as swim & climb trees – so you don't want to mess with them...
- What is the biggest bear in the world? Clue: it towers overs humans and weighs almost a tonne
