Bears are some of the largest land predators on Earth, and their size can vary greatly depending on the species. Polar bears are the largest bear species, with males typically weighing between 350 and 700 kilograms (772 to 1,543 pounds) and females weighing between 150 and 500 kilograms (331 to 1,102 pounds). The largest polar bear on record was a male shot in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, in 1960, which weighed an estimated 1,002 kilograms (2,210 pounds).
Other bear species are also quite large. Brown bears, also known as grizzly bears, are the second-largest bear species, with males typically weighing between 315 and 789 kilograms (695 to 1,740 pounds) and females weighing between 181 and 400 kilograms (400 to 882 pounds). The largest brown bear on record was a male shot on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia in 1959, which weighed an estimated 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds).
American black bears are the smallest bear species in North America, with males typically weighing between 115 and 318 kilograms (254 to 701 pounds) and females weighing between 60 and 175 kilograms (132 to 386 pounds). The largest American black bear on record was a male shot in New Brunswick, Canada, in 1955, which weighed an estimated 675 kilograms (1,488 pounds).
Asian black bears, also known as sun bears, are the smallest bear species in the world, with males typically weighing between 50 and 150 kilograms (110 to 331 pounds) and females weighing between 30 and 120 kilograms (66 to 265 pounds). The largest Asian black bear on record was a male shot in Myanmar in 1997, which weighed an estimated 150 kilograms (331 pounds).
As you can see, bears can be incredibly large animals, and polar bears are the largest of them all. It is important to be aware of their size and power when you are in areas where bears are present, and to take steps to avoid encounters with them.
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