If you’ve ever spent time outdoors where bears are part of the local wildlife, you may be wondering: how fast can a bear run?
Bears can reach top speeds of up to 35 mph depending on the type of bear. Grizzly bears can run up to 35 miles per hour, black bears can run up to 30 miles per hour, and polar bears can run up to 25 miles per hour.
There are several other components that determine bear speed which we’ll cover in this guide.
How Fast Can A Bear Run?
Depending on the environment, season, and type of bear, bear top speed is about 35 mph.
We’ll go into the specifics that determine how fast bears run to narrow this down.
| Grizzly Bear Top Speed | 35mph |
| Brown Bear Top Speed | 35mph |
| Black Bear Top Speed | 35mph |
| Polar Bear Top Speed | 25mph |
| Kodiak Bear Top Speed | 35mph |
Are Bears Fast?
Bears are generally considered fast over short distances thanks to their top speeds of 25-35 mph.
At this speed, they can outrun or match the top speeds of most other animals in their environments, including deer (35mph), moose (35mph), horses (27mph), dogs (15-20mph), and humans (8mph).
How Fast Can A Grizzly Bear Run?
So how fast is a grizzly bear?
The grizzly bear top speed can reach 35 miles per hour when at its lowest body weight, typically right after hibernation.
The grizzly bear (also known as a brown bear) can reach these fast speeds primarily on flat ground.
How Fast Do Brown Bears Run?
Brown bears are the same as grizzly bears, so the brown bear speed tops out at 35 miles per hour.
Factors that affect how fast brown bears can run are the terrain and their body weight based on the season.
Brown bears will run faster when right out of hibernation due to lower body weight.
How Fast Can A Black Bear Run?
The black bear top speed clocks in at about 30-35 miles per hour, making it pretty close to the speed of a grizzly or brown bear.
Black bear speed is highest when the bear is an adult and just coming out of hibernation (around Spring).
How Fast Can A Polar Bear Run?
Polar bear speed tops out at around 25 miles per hour.
The reason polar bears have a lower average bear speed than brown or black bears is because they have a bulky frame and they tend to swing their limbs as they run, which causes them to use more than twice as much energy to run than other bear species.
How Fast Can A Kodiak Bear Run?
Kodiak bears are a subspecies of brown bear, and can run at up to 35 miles per hour for short distances.
This is the same top speed as other brown bear variants like the grizzly.
These bears don’t often run or sprint, but you better hope you’re nowhere near them when they do!
Can You Outrun A Bear?
Can a human outrun a bear? No. The average human running speed is only 8mph, which is significantly less than a bear’s top speed of 25-35 mph, so a human cannot outrun a bear.
Even the world’s fastest sprinter Usain Bolt clocked in at 27mph at his absolute fastest running speed, which is not fast enough to outrun most adult bears!
Can A Bear Run Faster Than A Horse?
Bears can run faster than the average horse for a short distance, as the top bear speed is 35mph and the average speed of most horses is 27mph.
Now the exception would be over long distances, as horses have more stamina than bears.
Can Bears Run Downhill?
Yes, bears can run downhill and uphill at top speeds of 25-35mph depending on the type of bear, which is just as fast as bears can run on flat terrain.
What Is The Fastest Bear?
The fastest bear in the world in general is the brown bear with an average top speed of 35 miles per hour.
However, there was an American Black Bear once caught on radar in Pennsylvania that came in at nearly 45mph!
How Fast Are Bears? Wrapping Things Up
In conclusion, bears are at the top of the food chain for a reason.
Their formidable size, strength, and high speeds allow them to take down nearly any type of prey in their environments – including humans.
If you find yourself in a bear encounter, do not attempt to flee as humans are not able to outrun bears.
Check out our other guides for additional useful tips on wildlife, camping, and survival: