The bite force is typically measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), representing the pressure an animal’s jaws can exert.
For context, the average human bite force is 120-160 PSI—enough to crack a walnut, but nowhere near bone-crushing territory.
Bears, however, operate on an entirely different level.
Their jaw strength stems from large, powerful muscles—particularly the masseter and temporalis—attached to a robust skull designed for maximum leverage.
Researchers estimate bite force using a combination of direct measurements (where possible), computer modeling, and skull analysis and it can crush your bone.
Studies like those from Cambridge University highlight how muscle size, jaw structure, and prey type influence these numbers.
Bear Species and Their Jaw Power
Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)
@sporadicgibberish Grizzly bite can crush a bowling ball?! 🎳 #fyp #wildlife #grizzlybear #science #didyouknow #funfacts #trivia #randomfacts ♬ Lavender Cappuccino – Muspace Lofi
Grizzlies are built for power. Their diet includes large prey like elk and moose, often requiring them to break through thick hides and bones.
A 2023 article from BBC Science Focus Magazine notes that a grizzly’s bite is strong enough to crush a bowling ball—an object with a compressive strength of around 1,100 PSI.
Field observations back this up: grizzlies routinely crack open deer femurs and bison skulls while scavenging or hunting.
Their strength is clear in action. Grizzlies are known to crack open deer femurs and bison skulls while scavenging or hunting, bones that can withstand significant pressure before breaking.
For comparison, a bowling ball—rated to handle about 1,100 PSI—wouldn’t stand a chance against a grizzly’s bite.
Their teeth help make it happen: sharp canines, up to 4-5 cm long, puncture and tear, while broad molars grind down bone.
In places like Yellowstone or Alaska, you might find grizzly tracks near shattered moose remains, proof of their ability to process heavy skeletal structures.
They’ve even been seen snapping antlers—denser than most bones—when defending territory or feeding, showing their jaw power isn’t just for eating but for survival.
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
- Bite Force: Approximately 1,200 PSI
- Bone-Crushing Capability: Yes
As the largest bear species, polar bears top the charts with a bite force of 1,200 PSI according to Visual Capitalist.
Living in the Arctic, they rely on this strength to tackle seals and walruses, whose blubber and bones demand serious chomping power.
Their elongated canines—up to 5 cm long—pierce tough hides, while their molars grind through bone, making them hypercarnivores uniquely adapted to their environment.
In the wild, polar bears show off this strength daily. They’ll break seal skulls to get at the brain or crunch through walrus ribs, bones that resist serious force.
On Arctic ice floes, you might spot them working over a whale carcass, snapping frozen bones for marrow when fresh prey is scarce.
Their bite is precise and powerful, thanks to a shorter snout that boosts leverage.
This makes them stand out among bears, with jaws that can handle the harshest conditions and toughest meals, ensuring they thrive where others couldn’t.
American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
- Bite Force: 650-975 PSI
- Bone-Crushing Capability: Yes, but less consistently
Black bears are smaller and more omnivorous, with a bite force ranging from 650 to 975 PSI according to ThoughtCo.
While they can crush smaller bones—like those of rodents or fish—they’re less likely to tackle the heavy skeletal structures grizzlies and polar bears handle.
Still, their jaws are strong enough to inflict serious damage, as evidenced by rare human encounters.
Black bears can crush smaller bones without trouble—think rodent skulls or fish spines, which give way under a few hundred PSI. In forests from the Smokies to the Rockies, they’ve been seen splintering raccoon or deer vertebrae when meat’s on the menu, especially before hibernation.
Their teeth—3-4 cm canines and narrower molars—are better for tearing and grinding softer foods, but they can still handle tougher jobs. In rare cases, like human encounters, their bites have cracked arm bones, showing they’ve got power when it counts.
They’re less likely to take on heavy skeletal frames, but their jaws prove versatile and strong enough for their needs.
Force Comparison
Species
Bite Force (PSI)
Bone-Crushing Capability
Primary Prey
Grizzly Bear
1,160
Yes
Elk, moose, carrion
Polar Bear
1,200
Yes
Seals, walruses
American Black Bear
650-975
Yes (smaller bones)
Berries, fish, small mammals
How Bears Crush Bone: Anatomy and Behavior
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Bears owe their bone-crushing ability to a few key adaptations:
- Jaw Structure: Their skulls feature a wide zygomatic arch, providing ample attachment space for massive jaw muscles. This design allows independent movement of the upper and lower jaws, enhancing grip and pressure.
- Teeth Design: Large canines puncture and tear, while broad molars are built for grinding and crushing. Polar bears, for instance, use this combo to shatter seal skulls.
- Muscle Power: The masseter muscle alone can generate forces exceeding 1,000 pounds, amplified by the leverage of a short, stout snout.
In the wild, bears demonstrate this strength regularly. A grizzly can snap a moose femur—capable of withstanding over 1,000 PSI of compressive force—while scavenging. Polar bears have been observed cracking walrus ribs, which resist up to 1,500 PSI before fracturing. Even black bears, though less aggressive, can splinter deer vertebrae when meat is scarce.
Limits and Context
Can every bear crush every bone? Not quite. Bone strength varies—human femurs withstand about 1,700 PSI, while a bison’s can exceed 2,000 PSI.
Grizzlies and polar bears can handle most prey bones, but exceptionally dense ones might resist even their jaws.
Black bears, with their lower PSI, are more limited, typically sticking to softer targets.
Bears also don’t always crush bones for fun—they do it to access marrow or process carrion efficiently. Their bite force is a survival tool, not a party trick.
The Verdict on Bear Jaws
Yes, a bear’s bite can crush bone—grizzlies and polar bears do it with ease, clocking in at 1,160-1,200 PSI, while black bears manage smaller bones at 650-975 PSI.
Even bear hunting dogs, with their sharp instincts and stamina, know to respect that kind of power when they track these animals.
Backed by anatomical design, field observations, and scientific estimates, this capability is undeniable.
From splintering elk femurs to cracking walrus ribs, bears wield some of nature’s most powerful jaws.
Next time you’re in bear country, respect that strength—it’s not just their size that makes them kings of the wild.