Black bear vs. brown bear, who wins in a fight? If you know anything about bears, the obvious answer seems to be the brown bear. However, just like everything in nature, there can be exceptions to the rule. And there’s a video to prove it.
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Check out this post on Instagram:
The video comes from Taylor Thomas Albright, a wildlife photographer who has captured footage for NatGeo and other well-known outdoor brands.
In it, you see a black bear charging a larger brown bear at the edge of what looks like a raging river. Shockingly, the brown bear continues to back down.
“This is a first for me. And probably won’t ever see it happen again,” said Albright in his post. “Occasionally (rarely) a black bear will stay in the area when brown bear are close by. However, I’ve never seen a black bear back down a brown bear for a fish and then continue to push it out of where it’s fishing.”
Albright goes on to say that in this black bear vs. brown bear situation, the brown bear isn’t young. He says the animal is fairly well known in the area.
Black Bear Vs. Brown Bear: Who Wins (Usually)?
So why is this video so surprising?
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, black bears weigh between 200 and 500 pounds. Meanwhile, brown bears, also called grizzlies, can range from 500 to 900 pounds, with some topping 1,000 pounds.
Along with their size, brown bears are much more powerful animals and are often considered more dangerous. In the U.S., black bears statistically have more incidents with people, but they are also far more common. Black bears can be found from California to Florida and throughout the Northeast. Meanwhile, brown bears are predominantly found in Alaska, with a small percentage living in places like Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.
While carrying bear spray could be a smart choice, no matter where you recreate, it’s often required in places with grizzlies.
So, it’s safe to say that usually in this fight, the brown bear wins.
