Polar Bear vs. Grizzly Bear: Size, Power, Habitat, Diet & the Hybrid “Pizzly”

Short answer: Polar bears are generally bigger and more specialized sea-ice hunters; grizzlies (brown bears) are typically stronger all-rounders on land with the broader tool-kit (digging claws, omnivorous diet, huge territorial confidence). Who’s “tougher” depends entirely on where they meet.

Quick Compare (at a glance)

• Biggest typical male

• Interior “grizzly”: ~400–800 lb (180–360 kg)

• Kodiak/big coastal brown bears: 900–1,400 lb (410–635 kg), exceptional rivals to polar bears

• Polar bear (Ursus maritimus): 900–1,500 lb (410–680 kg) commonly; exceptional >1,700 lb

• Grizzly/brown bear (Ursus arctos): varies by region

• Height (standing)

• Polar: up to ~10 ft (3 m)

• Large brown bears: similar; interior grizzlies shorter

• Bite & weapons

• Both exceed 1,000 psi bite force; polar bears have longer necks & bigger forepaws for seal hunting; grizzlies have longer, stronger digging claws.

• Temperament

• Both are apex predators; grizzlies are often more assertive on land; polar bears are more curious/persistent when hungry on sea-ice coasts.

Where They Live & What They’re Built For

Polar bear: the marine specialist

• Range: Arctic coasts/pack ice of Canada, Alaska (USA), Greenland, Russia, and Norway (Svalbard).

• Design: Thick blubber, hollow guard hairs, massive insulating paws that act like snowshoes and swimming paddles.

• Lifestyle: Ice-dependent; follows seals across drifting floes; among the strongest long-distance swimmers in mammals.

Grizzly/brown bear: the adaptable powerhouse

• Range: Much of Alaska/Canada; remnant contiguous U.S. (Greater Yellowstone, Northern Rockies); across Eurasia for other brown-bear subspecies.

• Design: Longer, scimitar-like foreclaws for digging roots, ground squirrels, and for defense; pronounced shoulder hump = huge forelimb power.

• Lifestyle: Omnivore strategist—berries, roots, fish runs, carrion, ungulates when opportunity strikes.

What They Eat & How They Hunt

Polar bear—precision ambusher

• Diet: Mostly ringed & bearded seals (calorie-dense blubber).

• Tactics: Waits at breathing holes; smell can detect prey under snow/ice; explosive paw strike and skull bite.

Grizzly—menu of many

• Diet: Seasonally flexible—spring carrion & calves, ground squirrels, berries, salmon where available; will challenge wolves or other bears for carcasses.

• Tactics: Stamina chases for small prey, ambush at streams, and powerful digging; opportunistic scavenger and top competitor.

If They Meet: Who Has the Edge?

• On sea ice / coastal pack: Polar bear advantage. It’s home turf; traction, paw spread, and hunting style all favor the polar bear.

• Interior forests/plains: Grizzly advantage. Better maneuverability on varied ground; more experience with terrestrial fights and competitors.

• Similar sizes = stalemate risk. Most real encounters end in posturing and avoidance; carcass disputes can go either way, with size, age, and individual boldness deciding it.

Hybrids: “Pizzly” / “Grolar” Bears

• What & why: Polar × grizzly hybrids appear where ranges overlap, largely in the Canadian Arctic.

• Look: Cream-to-tawny coat, intermediate skull, longer claws than polar bears, more omnivorous foraging than a typical polar bear.

• How common: Documented but rare in the wild; genetics show occasional cross-breeding, not a widespread blend.

Conservation Snapshot

• Polar bears: Sea-ice loss challenges hunting success; many populations under pressure despite protections.

• Grizzlies (U.S. interior): Recovered in some regions under protections; conflicts tied to food access and human overlap.

Safety Notes (if you live/visit bear country)

• Carry bear spray and know how to use it; keep clean camps; secure attractants (coolers, garbage, fish).

• On trails: Make noise, travel in groups, give bears space (never approach, especially mothers with cubs).

• Coasts/Arctic communities: Follow local guidance; polar bears are curious and can investigate settlements—professional deterrence matters.

Bottom Line

• Bigger overall: Polar bears, with Kodiak/coastal brown bears close behind.

• Tougher fighter: Context-dependent. Polar bears dominate the ice; grizzlies rule the rough ground.

• Best survivor: Grizzlies win on adaptability; polar bears are unmatched specialists—peerless where sea ice still prevails.

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We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a Animals Top editor.