What Kind of Bear Is Best? An Expert Ranks Every Species In The World. – Backpacker Magazine

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It’s time for a showdown as Jeff Larson, co-host of Tooth and Claw podcast, ranks the world’s bear species. Which ones are just OK, and which is his number-one, all-time favorite animal?
All eight species of bears in the world. Clockwise from top left: Spectacled bear, Asiatic black bear, brown bear, American black bear, sun bear, giant panda, sloth bear, polar bear Photo: Pushpita Palit / 500px; Teresa Otto / iStock (x2); naotto1 / iStock via Getty
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Jeff Larson spends more time thinking about animals than most people. As one of the creators of Tooth and Claw podcast, Larson is on the air twice a month with his cohosts—his brother, bear biologist Wes Larson, and their friend Mike Smith— talking about hazardous animals from grizzlies to piranhas and the people they’ve attacked. He’s also an inveterate ranker, keeping an ongoing list of where every animal the group has discussed falls, based mostly on their vibes.
So when we wanted someone to give us their opinion on bears, we knew who to call. We asked Larson to rank all eight of the world’s extant bear species, from black bears to pandas, and he delivered. See where each species falls and why in the video below, and check out more great bear stories, science, humor, and safety tips in Bear Month 2025, running through June 15.

 
From 2025

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