# Who Would Win: A Bear or a Tiger? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006 "2016-11-14T21:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/21 "2016-11-15T15:13:27Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > _ **Is it Bears?** _ > > The Chicago Bears, football, have won 8 championships: 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, and 1985 (Super Bowl XX). > > The Chicago Cubs, baseball, have won 3 championships: 1907, 1908, and 2016. What about the Boston Bruins and the Memphis Grizzlies? Also the Nashville Predators mascot is a saber toothed tiger. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/22 "2016-11-15T16:10:47Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > What about the Boston Bruins and the Memphis Grizzlies? > > Also the Nashville Predators mascot is a saber toothed tiger. > > šŸ™‚ Well, I thought Iā€™d start with a real sport like football but the Bungles got nothing. So I widened the net to add baseball, which is much more sedentary than either hockey or basketball. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/23 "2016-11-15T18:17:55Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > _ **Is it Bears?** _ > > The Chicago Bears, football, have won 8 championships: 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, and 1985 (Super Bowl XX). > > The Chicago Cubs, baseball, have won 3 championships: 1907, 1908, and 2016. > > _ **Or Tigers?** _ > > The Cincinnati Bengals, football, were an AFL expansion team in 1968 and have no championships in their team history. > > The Detroit Tigers, baseball, have won 4 championships: 1935, 1946, 1968, and 1984. > Clearly, bears! This Hell, however it should also be noted that Tigger routinely beats the snot out of that stuffy pooh bear. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/24 "2016-11-15T18:21:58Z")
> [@edwards\_beard](#): > > This > Hell, however it should also be noted that Tigger routinely beats the snot out of that stuffy pooh bear. Word. And Calvin, he wouldnā€™t want to mess with Hobbes! (Image - [calvin hobbes - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=calvin+hobbes&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=isnv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrgrSXsKvQAhVmwVQKHfmoAyQQ_AUIBygB&biw=1024&bih=672#hl=en-us&tbm=isch&q=hobbes+wrestles+calvin&imgrc=YWreaIZS9yvPeM%3A)) ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/25 "2016-11-15T19:00:44Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > _ **Is it Bears?** _ > > The Chicago Bears, football, have won 8 championships: 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, and 1985 (Super Bowl XX). > > The Chicago Cubs, baseball, have won 3 championships: 1907, 1908, and 2016. > > _ **Or Tigers?** _ > > The Cincinnati Bengals, football, were an AFL expansion team in 1968 and have no championships in their team history. > > The Detroit Tigers, baseball, have won 4 championships: 1935, 1946, 1968, and 1984. > Clearly, bears! Hey, Iā€™m not talking historically, just this year. The Bears lost to the Jaguars, and Iā€™ll take a Bengal Tiger over a Jaguar any day. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/26 "2016-11-15T19:03:52Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Actually, it depends heavily on the **type** of bear. The following is from a few seconds on Google. (Note: the various reference websites are all over the scale, for some reason. I tried to pick the middle estimates.) > > Black bear (150-300 lbs) vs. tiger (220-675 lbs) = tiger wins handily. > > Polar bear (775-1,200 lbs) vs. tiger = probably depends on who wants it more, but on average, Iā€™ll give a slight edge to the tiger. > > Grizzly bear (700-1,700 lbs) vs. tiger = probably the bear. Baloo is a sloth bear: > **[Sloth bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth_bear)** > > The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), also known as the Indian bear, is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. It feeds on fruits, ants and termites. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation. It is the only species in the genus Melursus. > It has also been called "labiated bear" because of its long lower lip and palate used for sucking up insects. It has long, shaggy fur, a mane around the face, and long, sickle-shape... Maybe 300#, not very aggressive. _"Bengal tigers occasionally prey on sloth bears. Tigers usually give sloth bears a wide berth, though some specimens may become habitual bear killers[22] and it is not uncommon to find sloth bear fur in tiger scats.[23] Tigers typically hunt sloth bears by waiting for them near termite mounds, then creeping behind them and seizing them by the back of their necks and forcing them to the ground with their weight.[24] One tiger was reported to simply break its victimā€™s back with its paw, then wait for the paralysed bear to exhaust itself trying to escape before going in for the kill._ So, the Tiger. 9 times out of ten. Now if we bring over a 1,500 lb Kodiak or a big Grizzly- _then_ you have a fight. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/27 "2016-11-15T23:40:59Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Actually, it depends heavily on the **type** of bear. The following is from a few seconds on Google. (Note: the various reference websites are all over the scale, for some reason. I tried to pick the middle estimates.) > > Black bear (150-300 lbs) vs. tiger (220-675 lbs) = tiger wins handily. > > Polar bear (775-1,200 lbs) vs. tiger = probably depends on who wants it more, but on average, Iā€™ll give a slight edge to the tiger. > > Grizzly bear (700-1,700 lbs) vs. tiger = probably the bear. That was my first thought as well, that it would heavily depend on which types of tiger and bear. Iā€™d give the edge to the polar bear though against ,say, a Siberian tiger. Adult polar bears have been seen lifting 600 lb seals and walruses out of the water and carrying them in their jaws, not to mention the power of their fore paws. [Vide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3FCJGw5L4g)of a polar bear taking out a walrus. Way bigger than a tiger. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/28 "2016-11-15T23:57:16Z")
Getting back to being serious, I still think the bear generally wins, a grizzly over the biggest, meanest kind of tiger. However in the woods or where there is cover and concealment available, I would give the stalking edge to the tiger. Cats are smarter, stealthier, and that can be a winning advantage over the biggest, baddest bear. In that situation the bear may prevail but the tiger has the advantage because of its cunning. But in an arena, fenced in and enclosed, Iā€™ll take the bear. ---
**Author:** ![Terry\_the\_Tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Terry\_the\_Tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terry_the_Tramp)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/29 "2016-11-16T00:03:23Z")
What about a fight between a Grizzly Bear and a gorilla? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/30 "2016-11-16T00:30:49Z")
> [@Terry\_the\_Tramp](#): > > What about a fight between a Grizzly Bear and a gorilla? Grizzly Bear. Gorillas are very strong but they arenā€™t that aggressive. I might even vote for a psycho-chimp over a gorilla. Those smaller guys can really throw down if they want to. I went to a wildlife rescue center in Arkansas this past summer where they care for former exotic pets. They have lots of tigers because they are fairly popular pets in some areas but one person had a pet Grizzly that had to be taken away for some reason. The bear seemed sweet enough but, damn, he is HUGE especially when standing on his back legs and those claws are incredible. Tigers are big too overall but I canā€™t see one taking a fully grown Grizzly. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/31 "2016-11-16T00:34:41Z")
> [@Terry\_the\_Tramp](#): > > What about a fight between a Grizzly Bear and a gorilla? If the gorilla has a shotgun itā€™s even money. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/32 "2016-11-16T00:37:27Z")
Pound for pound the tiger wins. Brown bears can be much larger than tigers and would probably win in a fair fight if they had enough size advantage. If one of them gets the drop on the other he probably wins. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/33 "2016-11-16T01:40:05Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > ā€¦would probably win in a fair fightā€¦ What constitutes cheating in a bear-tiger fight? Pulling a knife? (J/K, I know what you meant.) ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/34 "2016-11-16T02:20:48Z")
To be fair, Baloo was kinda old and vegetarian. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/35 "2016-11-16T03:22:09Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > What constitutes cheating in a bear-tiger fight? Pulling a knife? (J/K, I know what you meant.) For some reason I am reminded of the start of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid where Butch is the tiger. Seriously though, itā€™s about how the ref calls the match. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/36 "2016-11-16T12:11:55Z")
My moneyā€™s on the Tiger in a Baloo/Khan match-up or an ā€œaverage bear vs average tigerā€ one. Iā€™d bet on a bear in the biggest bear vs biggest tiger matchupā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/37 "2016-11-16T16:26:40Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > My moneyā€™s on the Tiger in a Baloo/Khan match-up or an ā€œaverage bear vs average tigerā€ one. Iā€™d bet on a bear in the biggest bear vs biggest tiger matchupā€¦ Unless you intend to fight the hypothetical, you have to restrict yourself to the average Indian bear versus the average Indian tiger, [in the area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoni,_Madhya_Pradesh) in which The Jungle Book is set. In other words, a common sloth bear versus a Bengal tiger. As **DrDeth** [pointed out](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19783852&postcount=26), and as I pointed out 1[8 posts before him](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19781876&postcount=8)\*, the average Bengal tiger outweighs the average sloth bear by at least 100 pounds, is an actual apex predator instead of a foraging omnivore (mostly insectivore ā€“ termite eater), fights from an ambush start, and is known to actually prey on sloth bears. The only way the sloth bear wins in a fight the tiger would actually participate in is if you give the bear body armor and a sniper bodyguard in overwatch. \*Seriously? Does no one actually read the thread? Iā€™m half expecting this post to go invisible as well. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/38 "2016-11-16T16:45:42Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Unless you intend to fight the hypothetical, you have to restrict yourself to the average Indian bear versus the average Indian tiger, [in the area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoni,_Madhya_Pradesh) in which The Jungle Book is set. > > In other words, a common sloth bear versus a Bengal tiger. > > As **DrDeth** [pointed out](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19783852&postcount=26), and as I pointed out 1[8 posts before him](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19781876&postcount=8)\*, the average Bengal tiger outweighs the average sloth bear by at least 100 pounds, is an actual apex predator instead of a foraging omnivore (mostly insectivore ā€“ termite eater), fights from an ambush start, and is known to actually prey on sloth bears. > > The only way the sloth bear wins in a fight the tiger would actually participate in is if you give the bear body armor and a sniper bodyguard in overwatch. > \*Seriously? Does no one actually read the thread? Iā€™m half expecting this post to go invisible as well. I think youā€™re mostly right, but IIRC sloth bears are remarkably fierce and occasionally successfully defend themselves from tigers, even killing them rarely. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/39 "2016-11-16T17:08:50Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think youā€™re mostly right, but IIRC sloth bears are remarkably fierce and occasionally successfully defend themselves from tigers, even killing them rarely. I can give you that. If I were laying odds, it wouldnā€™t be 20-to-1 against the bear. More like 5-3 against, or maybe 2-1. ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006/40 "2016-11-16T17:39:15Z")
If the tiger get in the bear hug heā€™s done for. šŸ†’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-win-a-bear-or-a-tiger/772006.md?page=3)