The Biggest Bear Stands 5 Feet Tall on All Fours (Not Even on Its Hind Legs)

These heights are based on shoulder heights (how tall they are standing on all four legs), as opposed to their standing heights (how tall they’d be if they were standing on their hind legs).

Why? Well, would you measure a person’s height, based on how tall they were when they were on their tippy toes trying to reach something on a top shelf. Or how giant they looked while they were trying to scare away predators? Let’s measure these animals in their natural states.

1. Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi)

Kodiak bears, a subspecies of brown bears, are native to the Kodiak Archipelago in Alaska. Adult males can reach shoulder heights of about 5 feet (1.5 meters). Though a polar bear can be taller when standing on its hind legs, the Kodiak bear tends to have more robust builds with slightly higher shoulders.

2. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

Polar bears can also reach heights of almost 5 feet (1.5 meters). These Arctic giants rely on their massive size and strength to hunt seals, making them the apex predators of their icy habitat.

3. Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Grizzly bears, a type of brown bear, are slightly smaller than their Kodiak relatives but can still reach shoulder heights of 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 meters). Found across North America, grizzly bears are known for their powerful build and iconic shoulder hump.

4. Other Subspecies of Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

The brown bear population can be divided into many subspecies. While the biggest ones are Kodiak bears and grizzly bears, other brown bears (including Alaskan, European and Himalayan brown bears) can reach shoulder heights up to 2.5 to 3.5 feet (0.76 to 1.07 meters).

5. Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

Spectacled bears, the only bear species native to South America, stand around 2.5 to 3.5 feet (0.76 to 1.07 meters) tall at the shoulder. These bears are named for the unique markings around their eyes, resembling glasses.

6. Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus)

Also known as moon bears, Asiatic black bears can reach shoulder heights of about 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 meters) tall at the shoulder. These bears are easily recognizable by the crescent-shaped marking on their chest, and they are found in forests across Asia.

7. Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)

Sloth bears are delightfully quirky-looking bears found in the forests of India and Sri Lanka. About 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 meters) at the shoulder, they are known for their shaggy coats and insect-based diets.