Tiger vs. Bear: Which Apex Predator Wins in a Fight?

Tigers — especially Amur tigers — are among the strongest cats on Earth. Weighing up to 700 lbs (320 kg), these hunters rely on stealth, speed, and precision.

Unlike bears, tigers attack by ambush, using their tail to balance and launch from cover. They go for the throat or neck, aiming to kill quickly.

Tigers can hunt and catch large prey like boar or deer, and will occasionally take on bears — especially smaller ones like the Asiatic black bear or sloth bear. They’re known to use the element of surprise to their advantage, and their agile bodies allow quick maneuvers.

A grizzly bear or polar bear can easily outweigh a tiger, tipping the scales at over 990 lbs (450 kg). These animals have dense bones, layers of fat, and strong forearms. They rise on hind legs, slam down with brute force, and can deliver crushing bites to disorient or disable.

Brown bears and black bears are not just bulky; they’re smart, too. A bear’s thick hide and muscular body give it an edge in durability. In a stand-up brawl, the bear vs .tiger match might go in the bear's favor, especially if there’s no ambush.

In the woods of the Russian Far East, Amur tigers have been documented preying on Asiatic black bears and even juvenile brown bears. In one instance, scientists were shocked to discover that a Siberian tiger had killed and partially eaten a large brown bear in a ravine.

But vice versa? Bears have been seen scavenging tiger kills, and on rare occasions, have even killed tigers in direct conflicts. For a tigress with cubs, avoiding a fight might be the smarter move.

It depends on the species, the weight, and whether it’s a surprise attack or a face-to-face confrontation. A polar bear could overpower a tiger on open terrain. A tiger in the jungle could stalk and strike before a grizzly reacts.

When it comes to protection, the bear’s thick neck, layers of fat, and raw power give it the upper hand. But the tiger’s agility, precision, and stalking ability are nothing to overlook. A hungry tiger can be relentless, and a defensive bear equally lethal.

These animals avoid fights when possible, and when they clash, the winner often walks away with scars. There is no blanket answer for all the different variations of this fight, but it's still one of the most impressive matchups to imagine.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.