With climate change affecting the polar bear’s environment, encounters between polar bears and grizzlies are becoming more common, resulting in hybrid bears — specifically grolar bears and pizzly bears — have been discovered.
These bears inherit traits from both parents, blending the hunting skills of polar bears with the adaptability of grizzlies.
Hybrid grolar bears are sometimes bred in captivity but are a much rarer sight in the wild. A 2024 analysis of about 800 polar bears and grizzly bears across North America and Greenland found that only eight of the sample displayed hybrid genes.
This DNA evidence suggests that about 1 percent of the two species are currently hybridized.
While hybrid bears are rare, they highlight the challenges these species face in a changing world. Whether raising cubs on the Arctic ice or roaming forests in search of food, both species have evolved to be top predators in their environments.
We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.
