Bears as Predators ~

[brotherbear]

(01-18-2016, 05:09 AM)Polar Wrote: I think 50/50 for bear vs bull at equal weights is a fair assessment.

I have been re-reading the information on bull vs bear fights. In Old Mexico and Old California, it was often told that the grizzly most often defeated the bull; regardless of the fact that the bear was tethered to a post. The people were not being biased as the bull was the more popular favorite. The same was said of the bull vs bear fights in ancient Rome; where both animals were free ( no ropes or chains ). According to the ancient records, the bear nearly always defeated the bull. As for equal weights - not likely. I would guess that the bull normally had the weight advantage. 
But, something all of those fights had in common were grizzlies who had been living a more predatory life than most grizzlies of today. On the open prairie of the America west, the bears hunted range cattle, bison, and raided domestic livestock as well. Those bears knew a thing or two about how to kill a cow. Most of those bears had probably had a few fights with bulls before captured for the arena-games. In the wild, a grizzly would hunt calves and would likely from time-to-time be challenged by a cow. In more rare events, he would be faced by a big bull. Experience is a great advantage. 
The brown bears of Europe lived in an environment with red deer, wild boar, and aurochs. Reply