From Alaska’s coast to the Appalachian hardwoods, bears in the United States range from salmon-fed coastal giants to heavyweight black bears fattened on acorns and agricultural crops.
Some of these creatures tip the scales at weights that rival small cars, making them both awe-inspiring and a reminder of nature’s power. Below is a factual, state-grouped look at which bear is the biggest you’ll meet in each region, with verified top weights where agencies or reputable sources have published them.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on wildlife-agency reports and documented records; local populations and sizes vary by habitat and season.
1. Alaska
Alaska is the only U.S. state with polar bears and the world’s largest brown bears. The heaviest polar bear on record was taken in Alaska in 1960 and weighed 2,209 pounds, standing nearly 12 feet tall. That’s an all-time world record for the species.
On the brown-bear side, Boone and Crockett lists the world’s record Alaska brown bear from the Kodiak region by skull score from 1952 near Karluk Lake. Large males in Katmai commonly top 1,000 pounds in autumn, reflecting the outsized dimensions coastal bears can achieve on rich salmon diets.
2. Northern Rockies (MT, WY, ID)
In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, grizzly bears are the largest bears you’ll encounter. Yellowstone reports average adult male masses around 413 pounds, with a heaviest confirmed male at 715 pounds in the ecosystem. Recent research-handling documented a boar at roughly 712 pounds in 2023.
Coastal brown bears in Alaska get larger, but within the contiguous United States these Yellowstone-area grizzlies are the heavyweight champs. Their size comes from a varied diet of elk, cutthroat trout, and whitebark pine seeds when available.
3. Pacific States Without Resident Grizzlies (CA, OR, Most Of WA)
California, Oregon, and most of Washington no longer have established grizzly populations. The American black bear is therefore the largest bear routinely seen. Typical adult males in western forests often run a few hundred pounds.
Agency and park sources describe adult male black bears commonly around 210 to 315 pounds in comparable Rocky Mountain habitats. Individuals can be larger where food is abundant, especially in areas with plentiful berries, nuts, and human-provided calories. These bears adapt well to varied environments across the Pacific states.
4. Upper Midwest & Northeast Strongholds (ME, NY, WI, MN)
Several northern states have posted notable black-bear records. Maine’s state record is 699 pounds, certified, illustrating how productive mast crops can produce giants. New York’s DEC cites a largest live-handled bear at 684 pounds and an estimated 750-pound report.
Wisconsin’s long-standing, documented 635-pound dressed bear from Burnett County remains a benchmark historic giant. Minnesota’s DNR describes adult males up to roughly 500 pounds in the state, though individual outliers can exceed this in great food years when acorns and berries are plentiful.
5. Mid-Atlantic Powerhouses (PA, NJ)
Pennsylvania routinely produces some of the heaviest black bears in the lower 48 states. The state’s heaviest on record is 875 pounds, taken in 2010 from Pike County. The Game Commission notes multiple legal harvests of 800 pounds or more since the 1990s.
New Jersey has confirmed giants as well, including an 829-pound live-weight bear from 2011 in Jefferson Township. That’s the heaviest reported in the state and one of the largest documented black bears on the continent, fueled by agricultural crops and dense hardwood forests.
6. Southeast Heavyweights (NC And Neighbours): Coastal Foods, Coastal Bears
North Carolina black bears have access to rich coastal foods, including crops, mast, and wetlands. The largest black bear recorded in the state weighed 880 pounds and came from Craven County, according to the state wildlife agency.
That places North Carolina in the national conversation for top weights. These bears benefit from abundant agricultural edges where corn and soybeans provide high-calorie meals, plus traditional forest foods like acorns. The combination creates ideal conditions for record-class animals, rivaling even the Mid-Atlantic’s best.
7. Why Some Bears Get So Big
Diet and habitat drive size. Salmon-rich Alaskan coasts supercharge brown-bear growth, with fish providing dense protein and fat. Meanwhile, eastern agricultural edges and hard-mast forests help produce record-class black bears through abundant acorns, nuts, and crops.
Yellowstone’s grizzlies are formidable but generally lighter than Alaska’s coastal brown bears due to different foods and productivity. Bears that can access high-calorie resources year after year grow larger, while those in leaner habitats remain smaller. Genetics also play a role, but food availability remains the primary factor.
