From docile to deadly, weâve ranked our favorite fictional bears by your likelihood of surviving an unplanned run-in with them.
The only bears native to Paddingtonâs home country of Peru, Andeans are docile omnivores. When they see (or smell) a human, their first move is to bolt up a tree. Unless youâre packing one of Paddingtonâs marmalade sandwiches, youâre probably in the clear.
Unlike their grizzly cousins, black bears are pretty timid. Smokey might charge if he felt threatened or thought you were starting a forest fire, but it would be a bluff to make you run away. Fight back and youâll probably live ... to tell the coolest story ever.
The lovable bear from The Jungle Book is secretly into torture. Rather than killing victims outright, sloth bears chew their human preyâs limbs into what wildlife texts describe as âa perfect pulp.â Really adds a dark subtext to âThe Bear Necessities,â doesnât it?
Grizzly bears are notoriously defensive and territorial. Should you encounter Little Bear in the wilds around his quaint country cottage, your best bet is to play dead until he determines youâre no longer a threat. Donât get bold and try to fight back. You will not win.
Don't be fooled by Rupert's fine British manners and garish golf pants. Unlike most bear species, polar bears are carnivorous. When a hungry male goes after you, he's in it to win it. Fortunately, encountering these guys is rare because you don't live in the Arctic.
This article originally appeared in mental_floss magazine.
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