Bears and lions – two of nature’s most powerful predators that call North America home. But could they ever meet in the wild, much less wind up in a face-off over food? If you’re short on time, the quick answer is: no, bears do not eat lions.
In this nearly 3,000 word article, we’ll explore whether these two apex predators share any of the same territory, what each species typically eats, and delve into some interesting hypotheticals around what could possibly happen if a grizzly bear and lion ever crossed paths.
Where Bears & Lions Live
Grizzly Bear Habitat & Range
Grizzly bears are found primarily in Alaska, western Canada, and the northwestern United States. Their historic range once covered much of western North America, but habitat loss, hunting, and other factors have greatly reduced their population and range over the past 200 years.
Grizzlies prefer remote wilderness areas and mountain forests with dense cover. They are most commonly found in parks and preserves today, such as Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, and Banff National Park.
Primary foods for grizzlies include berries, roots, grasses, fish, rodents, and occasionally larger animals like moose or caribou.
According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, there are approximately 700-1000 grizzlies left in the lower 48 states, with most found around Yellowstone and northwestern Montana. In Alaska and Canada, populations are more stable but have still declined significantly from historical numbers.
Protecting existing wilderness habitat will be crucial for grizzly conservation in the future.
Mountain Lion Habitat & Range
Mountain lions (also called cougars or pumas) have the largest natural range of any wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. They are found from British Columbia to Patagonia and were once widespread across most of North and South America.
These big cats typically prefer rugged mountains, forested habitats, and woodlands with dense underbrush. However, they are very adaptable and can also be found in swamps, grasslands, and even semi-arid desert regions where prey is abundant.
Mountain lions are solitary and avoid areas of high human activity.
According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, there are estimated to be 30,000-50,000 mountain lions remaining in the Western United States. Although still relatively widely distributed, many populations are increasingly isolated due to habitat fragmentation and urbanization.
Overlap Between Species
Grizzly bears and mountain lions both occur in western North America, but generally inhabit different types of terrain and ecosystems. Grizzlies are more likely found in open alpine meadows, subalpine forests, and floodplain habitats.
Mountain lions prefer rugged mountains, woodlands, and thick underbrush.
That being said, there is some overlap in their ranges, particularly in parts of the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. Both species may be found in habitats like Yellowstone, the northern Rockies, the Cascade Mountains, and British Columbia’s coastal forests.
Direct interactions are uncommon due to differences in size, habitat preferences, and activity patterns. Mountain lions are solitary hunters and may occasionally kill small or vulnerable grizzlies. Grizzlies may dominate resources and react aggressively to defend carcasses or home ranges from mountain lions.
| Species | Population | Habitat |
| Grizzly Bear | ~700-1000 (lower 48 states) | Remote mountain forests, open meadows |
| Mountain Lion | ~30,000-50,000 (western US) | Mountains, woodlands, dense underbrush |
Grizzly Bear & Mountain Lion Diets
What Do Grizzly Bears Eat?
Grizzly bears are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their diet varies depending on the season and food availability. Grizzlies spend spring gorging on newly emerged vegetation and winter-killed carcasses.
In summer and fall, they consume a diversity of foods including roots, tubers, berries, fish, rodents, and ungulates (hoofed mammals like deer, elk, moose). Grizzlies are opportunistic eaters and occasionally prey on moose calves, sheep, and elk calves.
On average, plant matter comprises 80-90% of their diet.
Some of the grizzly’s favorite foods include:
- Roots and tubers – biscuitroot, sweetvetch roots, hedysarum roots
- Berries – huckleberries, buffaloberries, blueberries, currants
- Pine nuts
- Grasses and forbs
- Rodents – ground squirrels, voles, pocket gophers
- Insects – cutworm moths, ants, ladybugs, wasps
- Fish – trout, salmon, whitefish
- Ungulates – elk, moose, caribou, deer
- Carrion – winter-killed carcasses of elk, deer, moose
A fully grown male grizzly can consume over 20,000 calories per day in autumn to build up reserves for winter hibernation. No wonder they’re such ferocious eaters!
What Do Mountain Lions Eat?
Mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, are carnivorous predators that primarily hunt large mammals like deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. Their diets consist almost entirely of meat, around 90-95%. They may supplement with small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.
Mountain lions typically hunt at night or dusk and attack their prey from behind with a lethal bite to the neck or head. They can take down prey over twice their size, including elk weighing up to 500 pounds!
Here’s an overview of a mountain lion’s typical prey:
- Primary prey: deer (mule deer, white-tailed deer), elk
- Secondary prey: bighorn sheep, moose, pronghorn, wild horses
- Small mammals: raccoons, porcupines, rabbits, skunks, voles
- Birds: grouse, wild turkeys
- Reptiles: snakes, lizards
- Insects: grasshoppers, beetles
Mountain lions have large home ranges from 50 to over 400 square miles. Males generally take down larger prey than females. In some areas like Yellowstone, elk make up over 85% of a mountain lion’s diet. Talk about an addiction to venison!
Could Lions Ever Be On the Menu?
While grizzly bears and mountain lions inhabit some of the same wilderness habitats, they rarely ever cross paths or interact. So could a grizzly or mountain lion ever make a meal out of each other? It’s highly unlikely, but theoretically possible in a few rare scenarios.
Grizzly bears and mountain lions avoid each other and do not compete for food resources. They hunt entirely different prey and vary in size, strength, and hunting techniques. In the very few instances where grizzlies and mountain lions have fought, the bears have dominated with their massive size advantage.
Grizzlies can weigh 600-800 pounds, while mountain lions max out around 200 pounds.
A starving mountain lion may go after a young grizzly cub if the opportunity arose. But a full grown grizzly would likely defeat even the largest cougar. The only other scenario would be if a mountain lion ambushed an injured, old, or starving grizzly compromised in health.
But even debilitated grizzlies have incredible power and endurance.
While not completely outside the realm of possibility, a healthy mountain lion hunting a healthy mature grizzly bear would go against the laws of nature. Neither species shows any evidence of considering the other for prey. These solitary hunters are better off steering clear of each other!
Hypothetical Bear vs. Lion Face-Off
Size & Strength Comparison
When it comes to size and strength, bears have the advantage. The average adult male grizzly bear can weigh up to 800 pounds, while an adult African lion generally weighs between 330 to 550 pounds (source). Clearly, the larger grizzly bear has the edge in sheer size and strength.
| Creature | Average Weight |
|---|---|
| Grizzly Bear | 800 pounds |
| African Lion | 330 to 550 pounds |
In terms of weaponry, the grizzly bear has 3-inch claws and powerful jaws that can crush bones. An African lion relies more on tackling prey and suffocating with a bite to the neck. Statistically, experts give grizzly bears the upper hand for strength and weaponry.
Who Would Win In a Fight?
In a hypothetical face-off between a grizzly bear and lion, most experts believe the bear would win. With its substantial size advantage and bone-crushing bites, the grizzly should be able to overpower the lion relatively easily (source).
While the lion is quick and agile, it would struggle against the sheer brute strength of an 800-pound grizzly.
However, both animals rarely cross paths in the wild. Grizzly bears reside in North America, while lions inhabit parts of Africa and India. The chance of these two apex predators actually fighting is extremely low.
But hypothetically, there’s no question the grizzly’s size and strength would prevail in most scenarios. So in the end, the bear would eat the lion…figuratively, of course! 😉
Conclusion
While grizzly bears and mountain lions may rule their respective habitats out west, their ranges rarely overlap enough to produce chance encounters, let alone conflict. And with so much easier native prey available, neither predator would view the other as tempting food.
That said, nature has produced some truly unbelievable moments over time. So while no bear has ever been documented catching and eating a mountain lion before, in theory, a chance meeting between two of North America’s apex predators could always remain in the realm of hypothetical possibility!
