Silverback Gorilla vs. Grizzly Bear: Who Wins The Ultimate Showdown?

Gorillas and bears are two of the most majestic creatures on Earth. Although they roam in different circles, imagining what would happen in a battle between these two is fascinating. Which one would be easier for humans to elude in a fight? You can’t take on either of them without serious help, but planning a strategy is fun. Here’s a look at the silverback gorilla vs. grizzly bear debate to see which one comes out on top.

Silverback Gorilla Vs. Grizzly Bear: The Big Differences

Gorillas and grizzly bears are animals that nobody wants to anger. However, each of these animals has significant physical and social differences. Let’s walk through the primary differences and see how each fares.

1. Height

Height will be crucial, so start with a silverback gorilla vs. grizzly bear size comparison. Your typical silverback gorilla will grow to be about 5’5” when standing up. However, some creatures can get up to six feet tall when standing up, approaching the height of a male human. You can call them short kings, but their power cannot be ignored. Gorillas are built like bodybuilders!

In contrast, grizzly bears are much taller. A male grizzly bear typically gets to around five feet tall on all fours. Brown bears are a much different fight when standing up, clocking in at 9 feet tall on their hind legs! Considering their unstoppable height, it’s a shame grizzlies can’t shoot basketballs well. They could be the help Ja Morant needs to win the Western Conference.

Advantage: Grizzly Bear

2. Weight

When a male gorilla steps onto the scale, the machine will show 300-500 pounds for a male, whereas the female gorillas weigh about 150 to 250 pounds. The range seems broad because a gorilla’s weight depends on its species, age, diet and other factors. For example, captivity can make gorillas much larger. Reportedly, a gorilla in St. Louis, Missouri, weighed over 850 pounds! 

Weight is another category where the grizzly bears tower over silverback gorillas. Your average male grizzly bear can reach approximately 860 pounds in the wild, while female grizzlies typically max out around 455 pounds. While 860 is the average weight, these behemoths can exceed 1,000 pounds at their largest. Most brown bears in North America reach a maximum of 1,150 pounds if they’re bulking up for winter. 

Advantage: Grizzly Bear

3. Strength

Is a bear stronger than a gorilla? Strength is slightly harder to measure, but there are ways to decipher which creature is more powerful. Start with the silverback gorilla because the beast is powerful. Experts say the animal can lift nearly 1,800 pounds due to its massive size. Guy can do barbell curls to get stronger, but catching up to a silverback is a tall task. 

So, how much can a grizzly bear lift? Their massive size should mean they can overtake gorillas, but it doesn’t always work out that way. These big bears can lift the equivalent of their body weight, which is impressive. However, it’s less remarkable per pound, considering gorillas weigh much less. This round goes to the silverbacks!

Advantage: Silverback Gorilla

4. Bite Force

While lifting is vital, it doesn’t tell the entire story about strength. Bite force will influence the silverback gorilla vs. grizzly bear debate because the animals would undoubtedly battle with their teeth. Silverbacks stand out because they have a bite force of 1,300 PSI. To put it in perspective, that’s about 10 times stronger than the average human! 

Grizzly bears fall short in their bite force but aren’t far behind. Experts say these animals bite with 1,160 psi, enough to crush a bowling ball. The teeth are also strong enough to crush a human skull! Brown bears use their insanely sharp teeth to open animal flesh and decimate the bones of their prey.

Advantage: Silverback Gorilla

5. Diet

Diet isn’t the most conclusive factor in a fight. Still, it’s worth mentioning in a silverback gorilla vs. grizzly bear showdown. Grizzlies have an advantage because they’re natural predators and omnivores. These creatures aren’t drinking protein shakes to build muscle and huge calves. However, grizzly bears ensure their strength by eating salmon, deer and berries. 

Gorillas might be big and strong, but they’re not necessarily predators. They’re herbivores who mainly eat leaves, fruits, shrubs and anything else they can get their hands on. While they don’t eat meat, they aren’t facing a shortage. Adult male gorillas eat around 45 pounds of food daily, whereas females eat about 30 pounds. 

Advantage: Grizzly Bear

6. Speed

Heavier weights typically slow humans, but that’s not the case with bears and gorillas. These massive mammals can generate serious speed when they’re trying their hardest. For example, grizzly bears can run about 35 mph at top speed! Their claws dig into the ground but don’t hinder their sprinting. You’d never want to race a brown bear in the forest. 

Meanwhile, silverback gorillas are slightly slower. These animals run up to 25 mph, which is still faster than most humans. D.K. Metcalf might run a 10.37 race in the 100m dash, but it’s doubtful he’d hold up in a footrace against a gorilla. Silverbacks are fast because of their muscle composition and twitchy fibers. A robust skeletal structure means they get quick bursts of speed, which is helpful in a battle. 

Advantage: Grizzly Bear

7. Weaknesses

Strengths can determine who wins the fight, but weaknesses influence how they lose. The silverback gorilla vs. grizzly bear debate isn’t complete without discussing each animal’s liabilities. Here’s where the gorilla may fall short:

• Natural weapons: Gorillas aren’t known for their sharp claws or teeth because these weapons don’t exist. They solely rely on their brute strength to win battles. Conversely, grizzlies have sharper teeth and claws to bring diversified attacks. 
• Exposed body: Gorillas have fur on most of their bodies except for their upper abdomen. They don’t have nearly as much hair here, thus increasing vulnerability to sharp grizzly claws. 
• Fight experience: Gorillas primarily fight with other gorillas, so their fighting experience is limited. They might not understand how to tackle an animal of a much larger size. Meanwhile, grizzlies battle with bison, elk and moose. 
• Water: You probably won’t catch gorillas doing freestyle laps for core workouts anytime soon. These animals can’t swim, so they avoid deep waters when possible. They’d rather stay on the grass, whereas grizzlies are happy to get wet. 

It’s starting to sound like grizzly bears have a distinct advantage. However, gorillas could even the score by remembering these disadvantages:

• Agility: Bears are faster at their top speed, but their lack of agility could affect their performance. Grizzlies have a lower center of gravity, which is excellent for power and stability. However, their short limbs will be a disadvantage. 
• Turning speed: Similarly, a grizzly cannot easily turn its body and defend itself in fights. The brown bear has a ton of weight in its upper body, meaning shifting the center is challenging. Gorillas could take advantage because they can pivot more easily.  
• Vision: An average grizzly bear’s vision is fine, but not its strongest characteristic. These animals rely on their smell when hunting and navigating terrain, so their senses could be a liability if the gorilla covers itself well. 
• Nose: Speaking of the nose, it could be a weakness with a well-placed strike. Imagine the gorilla whacks the grizzly bear on the nose. Depending on how the body reacts, it could temporarily stun the big brown animal. It’s worth a shot in a fight! 

Key Stats for the Grizzly Bear and Gorilla Fight

	Grizzly bear	Silverback gorilla
Height	9’0”	5’5”
Weight	Up to 1,000 pounds	Up to 500 pounds
Top speed	35 mph	25 mph
Lifting strength	1,000 pounds	1,800 pounds
Bite force	1,160 psi	1,300 psi

Silverback Gorilla Vs. Grizzly Bear: Where Can You Spot Them?

If a silverback gorilla and a grizzly bear were to duke it out, the setting would be a significant factor. While these creatures are large and majestic, their typical whereabouts could not be more different. Let’s look at where you can find these animals.

Silverback Gorilla Locations

Finding a silverback gorilla requires traveling to Africa — specifically, the central section of the continent. You can find large swaths of gorillas near the Congo Basin, but hunting and habitat destruction have reduced populations and threatened their existence. Experts say they could leave the area permanently due to low birth rates. However, governments and conservationists have designated areas to protect gorillas. 

Gorillas are unique because you can’t find them elsewhere outside Africa. Depending on where you look, you can find different subspecies, such as the western, eastern and mountain gorilla. Some live in marshes and swamps, thus earning the name lowland gorilla. In contrast, others live in mountainous areas with high elevations.

Grizzly Bear Locations

Grizzly Bears, on the other hand, are much easier to find worldwide. In fact, there’s a good chance you’ll find one if you visit Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. The park has 6 million acres of grizzlies, reindeer and other unforgettable animals. Besides Alaska, you can find grizzly bears in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and other western states. It’s worth taking a ride with the guys to see these majestic creatures! 

While the grizzly bears come from North America, you can find some of their relatives in other northern countries. For instance, the Ussuri brown bear is common in Russia, China, Japan and Korea. Unsurprisingly, grizzlies are related to black and polar bears, which reside in different locations. The white, fuzzy bears live in the Arctic, whereas the darker bears reside across North America. 

Who Wins: A Silverback or a Grizzly?

Considering their massive geographical differences, the silverback gorilla vs. grizzly bear fight can’t occur in the wild. However, we can imagine what would happen if they dueled. 

A silverback gorilla can lift more than a grizzly bear, but grizzlies would still win in most scenarios based on sheer size and incredibly sharp claws. Also, let’s factor in brown bears have experience fighting other mammals. Gorillas are herbivores and won’t have the same instincts, so that’s another advantage for the grizzlies. The only thing slowing down a grizzly bear would be its lack of agility. 

In an open space, the gorilla could find some tactical maneuvers and give itself a chance. However, the grizzly bear would be a much better bet due to its size and skill set. The average human would have an easier time against a gorilla, but they’d quickly succumb to either animal.

Originally posted 1/11/2024 – Updated 8/6/2025