Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) is a subspecies of brown bears (Ursus arctos)
They inhabit the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in southwest Alaska
They look like grizzly bears, however, they are significantly larger
Here are 15 amazing Kodiak bear facts
Kodiak Bear Facts
1 Kodiak bear is the largest brown bear in the world
The Kodiak bear is the largest recognized subspecies or population of the brown bear
Furthermore, along with the mighty polar bear, it is one of the two largest bear species alive today
The weight of females (sows) is between 181 and 318 kg (399 to 701 lb), and males (boars) can be from 272 to 635 kg (600 to 1,400 lb)
The largest recorded wild male Kodiak bear weighed 751 kg (1,656 lb) which is on display in Anchorage Airport, Alaska
Captive bears can weigh even more: the largest verified size for a captive Kodiak bear was for a male specimen Nicknamed “Clyde” that lived at the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota
The giant bear weighed 966 kg (2,130 lb) when he died in June 1987 at the age of 22
He weighed close to 1,089 kg (2,400 lb) one year before his death
When standing fully upright on its hind legs, a large male could reach a height of 3 meters (98 feet)
The largest Kodiak Bear ever recorded: Anchorage Airport Brown Bear
The largest Kodiak Bear ever recorded is the famous 1700-pound (771 kg) world record brown bear which is on display in Anchorage Airport, Alaska
It is also the biggest brown bear ever recorded
It stands about 10 feet (305 meters) tall, standing on its hind legs
But, the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Commission did not reveal his name
World record Kodiak bear – the famous 1700-pound (771 kg) world-record brown bear which is on display in Anchorage Airport, Alaska
Standing about 10 feet (305 meters) tall on its hind legs, this is the largest brown bear ever recorded
Related: 20 amazing Polar Bear facts
Polar bears are classified as marine mammals rather than terrestrial (land-living) mammals because of their dependency on sea ice
This classification makes the Kodiak bear the largest terrestrial carnivore in the world
3 Kodiak bears are very close relatives of the Grizzly bears
Some experts do not accept them as different species – Kodiak bears are just grizzly bears living on Kodiak island, according to them
Some scientists, on the other hand, think that Kodiak bears (Ursus arctos middendorffi) and grizzlies (Ursus arctos horribilis) are part of the same species of brown bear, though they are different enough to constitute two subspecies
The main difference is where they live
The range of the Kodiak is limited to just the islands of the Kodiak archipelago of southwestern Alaska
Grizzly bears, on the other hand, are much more widespread; they’re generally found in inland areas of the Canadian provinces of the Northwest Territories, Yukon, British Columbia, and Alberta, and the US states of Alaska, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, and Idaho
Generally, Kodiak bears live in a food-rich area, they have a larger bone structure, and therefore larger frames than grizzly bears, though both species can reach very large sizes
There is also no interbreeding between the Kodiak bears and the inland grizzlies
Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) is the largest Brown Bear on Earth
It rivals the polar bear as the largest member of the bear family
Although Kodiak bears and Grizzly bears are closely related, they are different subspecies
4 They are also relatives of the Asian brown bear
Genetic analyses show that the Kodiak bear is related to brown bears both on the Alaska Peninsula and Kamchatka peninsula in far eastern Russia
The Kamchatka brown bear is almost as big as the Kodiak bear
However, the analysis also suggests that the Kodiak bears have been genetically isolated since the last ice age, which means for at least 10,000-12,000 years
The map of the Kodiak archipelago, where Kodiak bears live
By USGS – USGS, CC BY-SA 25, LinkDuring the last ice age, Kodiak bears were less geographically isolated than they are now
Related: 10 Amazing Kamchatka Brown Bear Facts
5 Kodiak bears can be in many different colors
Hair colors of Kodiak bears range from blonde to orange to dark brown
6 They live up to 25 years
The oldest recorded male (boar) in the wild was 27 and the oldest female (sow) was 35
They reach sexual maturity around age 5, but most females (sows) are over 9 years old when they successfully give birth
Cubs leave their mothers when they are around 3-5 years old, but their survivability rate is not great: only 56% of males and 89% of females survive
But, since they live in a relatively small and isolated area, they can create large dense groups in areas that are rich in food
Because of this, they are more social than other bears and, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, they have developed a complex language and social structure to express their feelings and avoid fights
Kodiak bears are usually diurnal, which means they are active during the day
9 Kodiak bears are omnivores
Despite its massive size and reputation as a fierce predator, the Kodiak bear is generally an opportunist and will eat a large variety of plant and animal species
They are not as territorial as grizzly bears
Despite their huge size, Kodiak bears are not very territorial and they usually do not defend their territories as aggressively as grizzly bears
Food is abundant where they live
Related: 20 amazing Grizzly bear facts
Kodiak bear populations are healthy and productive
There are still possible threats, though: effects of global warming upon salmon populations which are the main protein and fat resources of the bears, energy development projects and associated road-building, and increasing human activity in the area which increase the likelihood of human-bear conflicts, are the main threats
Furthermore, although the current population is healthy and productive, and has shown no overt adverse signs of inbreeding, there is very little genetic diversity exists within the Kodiak bear population
This may be making their population more susceptible to new diseases or parasites than other, more diverse brown bear populations
A mother Kodiak bear with her three cubs
Kodiak bears begin entering their dens in late October
Pregnant sows are usually the first to go to dens; males are the last
Individuals living on the north end of Kodiak Island tend to have longer denning periods
Most Kodiak bears dig their dens in hills or mountainsides
Almost 25 percent of the adult bears, almost always males, forgo denning, staying somewhat active throughout the winter
Kodiak bear paws are huge!
A 700-pound (318 kg) Kodiak bear, which is an average-sized individual could have a front paw that is 13” (33 cm) across
There was a famous Kodiak bear named “Bart the Bear”
Bart the Bear was a huge male Kodiak bear
He is best known for his appearances in Hollywood films, including The Bear (for which he received widespread acclaim), White Fang, Legends of the Fall, and The Edge
Bart was trained by animal trainers Doug and Lynne Seus of Wasatch Rocky Mountain Wildlife, Inc, in Heber City, Utah
He was 9′ 6″ (290 meters) tall and weighed 1,500 pounds (680 kg)
Bart the bear with his trainer Doug Seus
The Legacy of Bart the BearBart the Bear™ was a huge Kodiak bear born in a zoo in 1977 and adopted by Doug and Lynne Seus and trained to be in films
This video is a tribute to Bart, the Seuses, and the conservation nonprofit they created to protect the habitat for wild grizzlies, The Vital Ground Foundation
Since its founding in 1990, Vital Ground has helped enhance, restore and conserve 600,000 acres of wildlife habitat in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia
Usually Kodiak bears do not attack people
Kodiak bears usually attempt to avoid encounters with people
In the past 100 years, only one person has been killed by a bear on Kodiak Island – the incident has occurred in 1999 and he was a bear hunter
On average, once every other year a bear injures a person
If some bears avoid these areas because people are there, those bears may not get the fat and protein they need to make it through the upcoming winter
Consequently, unmanaged bear viewing could affect several bears, especially productive sows with cubs”
In recent years, bear-viewing has become increasingly popular on Kodiak island and other parts of Alaska
In recent years, bear-viewing has become increasingly popular on Kodiak island and other parts of Alaska
Image source: Deposit Photos
Image source: Deposit Photos
Kodiak bear on Wikipedia
Kodiak Bear Fact Sheet on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website
Kodiak Bear facts and beyond on the Biology Dictionary website
Kodiak bear on the Bear Conversation website
Bart the Bear on Wikipedia
How do Kodiak and grizzly bears differ?
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key point What is a Kodiak bear?
How rare are Kodiak bear sightings?
Biggest Kodiak ever How big was “Bart the Bear” in movies like The Bear, White Fang , and The Fallen ?
“Biggest Bear” Guinness World Records largest polar bear ever Can you hunt a Kodiak bear?
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Hunting for Kodiak bears is restricted and tightly controlled
While Kodiak populations appear to be stable, there are fears that their numbers will dwindle as more and more individuals enter their range
Polar bears are the largest bear species, but they are not numerous, and brown bears, including Kodiak bears, are almost as big
The Kodiak bear is a subspecies of the brown bear that lives only on the Kodiak Islands in Alaska
Let’s take a look at the largest Kodiak bear ever
What is a Kodiak bear?
The Kodiak bear is the largest subspecies of the brown bear
Kodiak bears are a subspecies of brown bears
Kodiak bears are a subspecies of brown bears
Brown bears (Kodiak and grizzly)
polar bear
Kodiak bears have been isolated from other bear populations for 12,000 years, so they are truly a unique species
Kodiak bears have been isolated from other bear populations for 12,000 years, so they are truly a unique species
There are about 3,500 Kodiak bears alive, a healthy population
There are about 3,500 Kodiak bears alive, a healthy population
Kodiak bears have thick brown fur, powerful legs, and sharp claws
You can tell the difference between a black bear and a Kodiak bear by the hump on their back
Males can weigh 1,500 pounds or more, while females are slightly lighter
Read more Coyote Poop: How To Tell If Coyotes Are Pooping In Your Yard How rare are Kodiak bear sightings?
Kodiak bears are a subspecies of brown bears that are similar in appearance to grizzly bears
While this subspecies of bear is not usually found on the mainland, they are relatively common on islands
In that sense, sightings of Kodiak bears are not uncommon, however, sightings are largely dependent on human activity
This subspecies of brown bear is very wary of humans and will avoid contact, and while they don’t usually show signs of aggression, it’s important to be cautious and respectful
Although there is no exact number of Kodiak bear sightings that occur each year, as this largely depends on many factors such as location, time of year, and the level of human activity in the area
In fact, only 496 bear permits are available during certain hunting seasons
It’s also worth noting that while some people may report sightings of Kodiak bears, not all of these sightings are accurate or verified
Kodiak bears are bigger than grizzlies
Kodiak bears are the largest brown bears, and polar bears are slightly larger than Kodiak bears
There is some debate about how bears are classified, but most seem to agree that brown bears have two subspecies, the Kodiak and the grizzly
In North America, bears that live in coastal areas such as Washington state and California are called “brown bears” or “coastal brown bears,” while more inland areas such as Montana, Idaho and Yellowstone Park Bears are called grizzlies
Kodiak bears are larger than brown and grizzly bears
Kodiak Island is located in southern Alaska
The island is home to a 19 million-acre wildlife sanctuary, which includes the only Kodiak bear population
President Roosevelt’s main purpose in establishing the sanctuary was to provide a safe home for Kodiak bears
Biggest Kodiak ever
The largest Kodiak bear ever recorded was a captive bear named Clyde
He is a Kodiak bear that lives at the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota
Captive bears are usually heavier than wild bears, which gives him an advantage
For years, he’s been the main character at the zoo, along with a bear companion named Bonnie
He was reportedly 9 feet tall and lived to be 22
Of course, there may be larger Kodiak bears in the wild, but it’s hard to find them and measure them
How big was “Bart the Bear” in movies like The Bear, White Fang , and The Fallen ?
Bart the Bear is a famous Kodiak bear who was trained to be an animal actor
His coaches were Doug and Lynn Sues, and they worked with Bart on several films, including a starring role in The Bear
Bart was born at the Baltimore Zoo in 1977 and lived until 2000
Seeing pictures of Bart standing next to his trainer is impressive compared to his size
Bart is actually taller than Clyde, who holds the record for the largest Kodiak bear, but he weighs nowhere near Clyde
At only 1,500 pounds, Bart is heavier than the average Kodiak bear!
“Biggest Bear” Guinness World Records
The Guinness Book of World Records is awarded to an entire category of bears, not a specific bear
The “largest bear” record belongs to a polar bear!
Polar bears live in Arctic Canada, Russia and Greenland, but most live north of the Arctic Circle
Polar bears weigh between 880 and 1,320 pounds and stand between 7 feet 10 inches and 8 feet 6 inches tall
The Guinness Book of World Records declares the polar bear the largest bear, but the Kodiak bears its fair share of praise, but not as long as a polar bear
largest polar bear ever
Let’s compare the largest Kodiak ever made to the largest polar bear ever!
The largest polar bear ever recorded weighed 2,209 pounds!
The largest polar bear ever recorded weighed 2,209 pounds!
That’s 79 pounds heavier than the largest Kodiak bear, Clyde
This polar bear was a wild bear discovered in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska in 1960
This was before wildlife conservation was more common, so this bear was unfortunately shot, killed and put on a horse
At 11 feet 1 inch, he was taller than Clyde and Bart
Read more rattlesnake The average polar bear is about 8 feet tall
Can you hunt a Kodiak bear?
Kodiak bear hunting is strictly regulated and only 496 permits are issued each year
The Kodiak bear population is strictly regulated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
As Kodiak populations continue to be healthy, approximately 180 Kodiak bears are killed each year during the hunting season
Only 496 bear keeping certificates are issued each year, but more than 5,000 people apply
Polar bear hunting is illegal in North America
However, Alaska Natives are the only group allowed to hunt these top predators
Alaska natives are allowed to hunt polar bears, but otherwise, it’s illegal in the United States
Polar bears are a vulnerable species and are highly protected
Conservationists, concerned about the impact of climate change on polar bear habitat, want new assessments of how conditions have changed over the past seven years
What would happen if a polar bear fought a Kodiak bear?
© AZ-Animalscom
© AZ-Animalscom
We may never know because polar bears don’t live on the Kodiak Islands
Kodiak bears can live over 40 years in captivity
Kodiak bears can live 20 or even 25 years, just like their other bear relatives
Giant bears can even live to be 30 years old, and some bears can live more than 40 years in human care
Kodiak bears live only on the islands of the Kodiak archipelago
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