This footage of grizzlies running at full speed in Grand Teton National Park is both mesmerizing and terrifying.
There’s an abundant variety of wild animals that call Grand Teton National Park (located in northwest Wyoming) home. Visitors are likely to see bald eagles and ospreys flying above, bighorn sheep traversing the mountainous terrain, and animals like elk, moose and bison wandering along in the flats of the property.
If they are lucky, those stopping in to see the beauty of the national park framed by the Teton Range might also set their eyes on the many predators in the area (from a safe distance, of course), like black bears, wolves, and grizzly bears. This video below was captured by the “Bear Aware Yellowstone Bear Spray Rentals” social media account… and I can’t think of a better advertisement for bear spray than this.
In case you didn’t know, grizzly bears – though they might look a little “chunky” – can run like the wind. They are the fastest of the eight bear species, and have been known to top out at a speed of 35 miles per hour. There are even videos out there of grizzlies keeping up with cars that are going 40 miles per hour. They’ve got very sneaky speed, and a whole lot of stamina to go with it.
Though 35 miles per hour is typically their topping out speed, they can maintain 25 to 30 miles per hour for miles at a time. So if they are going after a meal (like they might be in this footage), they can maintain a certain pace and tire out whatever they are chasing. They truly are an apex predator, and as you’ll see in this clip, they are also a great reason to opt for bear spray when you are in bear country:
“Grizzly’s are out and about in Grand Teton National Park! Dang, they run fast! Think you could outrun a grizzly? Didn’t think so, CARRY BEAR SPRAY.”
As the old joke goes, you don’t have to outrun the grizzly bear… you just have to outrun the slowest person in your group.
It’s truly impressive how fast grizzlies can run, given that they are among the largest land carnivores in North America. Adult males can grow to be over 8-foot tall, and weigh anywhere from 400 to 800 pounds. Knowing that, it’s kind of surprising that they are one of the most agile hunters in the Animal Kingdom, eh?
But it’s true. They are pure muscle and built to be a hunting machine. Their razor-sharp claws give them incredible traction, and allow for them to accelerate quickly. It also gives them the ability to stop on a dime and change directions if necessary. When the Good Lord put the grizzly bear together, He left nothing out when it came to creating a fast, sizable, intimidating hunting machine.
In other words… get the bear spray if you ever visit Grand Teton National Park, or anywhere else where grizzlies might be roaming. I promise you will not regret doing so.
