Bears are muscular, stocky and flat-footed, built for strength rather than speed.
But have you ever wondered how fast these apex predators can run – and whether you could outrun one?
How fast are bears?
While it's hard to come by reliable measurements of how fast bears are, one well-documented estimate was made in 1930 by a ranger in Yellowstone National Park. He followed four grizzly bears in his car, clocking them at an average speed of 48kph.
Could a human outrun a bear?
Usain Bolt, the fastest human, reaches only 37.58kph on a running track – so it's highly unlikely that you'd be able to outrun a bear if you came across one in the wild. Bears can also easily out-swim and out-climb humans.
If you want to find out your best chances of survival, take a look at our guide on how to avoid a bear attack.
Discover more about bears
