Meet the Grolar bear: What happens when a grizzly mates with a polar bear

Ligers, wolfins, and grolar bears, oh my! In this new, 21st century remake of Dorothy’s yellow-bricked journey to Oz, we’ve got a new cast of woke animals to throw your way.

I’m joking, of course, but the animals listed above are indeed real, and not the creation of some insane, fizzy-haired, lab-coated Transylvanian scientist.

Some say that the creature is also known as a ‘pizzly’, but that’s just too hilarious for this genuinely terrifying freak of nature.

Before we get to the hybrid, let’s take a look at the progenitors.

Grizzly bears inhabit North America and are perhaps the most well-known bear species in the world. They’re the ones that catch salmon in the river as David Attenborough narrates it from an undisclosed location. In fact, grizzlies are omnivores and plants make up around 85% of their diet, which changes throughout the year; seasonal intakes of protein include elk, deer, and moose. While they are generally not aggressive, they become highly territorial, especially when with cubs.

Their polar cousins, however, while they also look utterly squishable and furry, they’re a nightmare for any human. Polar bears are the largest species of bear and one of the only animals across the Kingdom that see humans are prey and actively hunt us.

They will dig you out of your igloo and tear you to shreds with their paws that are the size of a Toyota Land Cruiser steering wheel, and their insanely accurate sense of smell that can find a seal from more than 1 km (0.6 mi.) away and even pierce through the snow and ice up to 1 m (3 ft.).

Habitat overlap due to global warming (don’t cancel me for saying it’s real, Donald), means that the territory of the polar bear is shrinking, and as such they’re being squeezed into brown bear lands. Such changes are leading to this extremely rare hybrid being spotted, with most confirmed wild cases have involved a male grizzly bear mating with a female polar bear.

Aggression is usually the initial outcome should these two species cross paths, meaning their numbers are low: only eight cases have ever been confirmed.

Related stories

Tax

Experts reveal their forecast for IRS's 2026 tax brackets

Sports center

Chinese military accused of stealing Sinner and Man City stars' brain data

While we know that their fur is a mixture of brown and white, that’s about it: scientists aren’t even sure if grolar bears are fertile. But I’m not telling a grolar bear that.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.