How fast runs a bear

Grizzlies, in particular, have protruding, muscle mass-topped shoulder blades that power their forelimbs to run and dig. This mound of muscle creates a distinguishing hump on their upper backs — the best way to tell a grizzly from a black bear. Bears also have impressive claws that can grow to be more than four inches long, which helps them find their footing on soft land, but can hinder their running ability on hard surfaces like asphalt.

Because their forelimbs are shorter, they're strong enough to support more weight than their back legs. This lopsided stature has long given the impression that the animals can't run downhill, but that myth has been repeatedly debunked. A article in Yellowstone Nature Notes provides anecdotal evidence that a famous bear named Clubfoot was, in fact, slower going up than going down.

It was "able to keep pace with a horse going downhill, but not uphill," said J. Firstly, you can try to avoid bear encounters in the wild by making consistent noise while you're hiking and being diligent about proper food storage so as to not attract these mostly harmless creatures to your campsite. Know which bears frequent the area and how to identify them, because different species will require different reactions.

For instance, if you encounter a black bear — the most common in the U. On the contrary, making eye contact with a brown bear — distinguishable by its dished profile and prominent shoulder hump — is not advisable.

Do not scream, yell, or make any alarming noises. Back up slowly, facing the bear if you can. It's best to carry bear spray if you know you'll be in an area frequented by grizzlies. No matter which species of bear you see, don't turn your back on it, and never run — their predator instincts will prompt them to chase. During a race in Berlin, , the famous Jamaican sprinter set the world record for the fastest human foot speed ever recorded. He clocked a Nonetheless, Bolt could be able to outrun a lumbering polar bear or an Asiatic black bear moon bear , which can reach speeds of 25 mph, as well as a sloth bear or panda that can achieve speeds of up to 20 mph.

Even so, the line graphs depicting his breakneck sprints show that he can only maintain his full speed for one to two seconds, just like any other person. On the other hand, according to many records recovered in Yellowstone National Park from the s, a bear can maintain speeds of 25 to 28 miles per hour for 2 miles some of the only data on bear speed present to this date. The average person, moving at a slow 15 mph, will clearly not be able to keep up. And in order to catch these speedy mammals, they need to be able to catch up.

Seeing a bear in the wilderness can be terrifying. When standing on their hind legs, these beasts can be eight to nine foot in height. Up to this date, Usain Bolt is the fastest human on this planet. This might sound impossible, but there are a few things you can do. Try talking to the bear in a low voice.

Try to make yourself bigger by climbing a chair and wave your hands — but not in a psychotic manner. Start moving away, but slowly, and never turn your back on the bear. Finally, always carry bear pepper spray. This means they lose their sight and have trouble breathing. The effect lasts around 45 minutes, which gives you enough time to leave the area.

Thanks to our teddy bears we all owned as kids, we tend to see bears as cuddly and clumsy animals. This speed means that it is possible for a bear to outrun a car that is moving on a rural road.

The fastest human being alive, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, can get to top speeds of a little over 27 miles per hour. There is a common misconception that bears are full of fat and, therefore, incapable of running at high speeds.

In addition to the huge bulk, which includes a considerable amount of fat, bears have considerable muscle that can easily handle their body mass. Bears have a lot of resemblance to dogs bears are caniforms , which is also a contributing factor to their top speeds.

Of the extant species of bears, polar bears are the largest with adult males having an average weight of between and 1, pounds and a length of between seven and ten feet. The sun bear is the smallest species with a weight ranging between 55 and pounds and a length of between 39 and 55 inches.