Physical Description

Bear Viewing	Hibernation	Body Language
Physical Description	Preferred Foods	Research & Management
Life Cycle	Reproduction

Species:	Ursus arctos middendorffi
Lifespan:	Usually less than 20 years; but can reach 30 years
Size (shoulder):	Mature Boars - up to 5 feet Mature Sows - up to 3-1/2 feet
Weight:	Mature Boars - 750 to 1,500 pounds Mature Sows 350 - 750 pounds
Hearing	Good to excellent by human standards
Vision	Ability to distinguish color and activity at all levels of light (considered good, but not exceptional)
Smell	"A pine needle fell in the forest.  The eagle saw it.  The deer heard it.  The bear smelled it."  (unknown author)
Strength	"... a brown (bear) ... took a thousand-pound steer a half mile up an almost vertical mountain.  Much of the way through alder tangles with trunks three or four inches thick." (Bast, Bears)
Claws	Usually black;  may be whitish on older bears;  used for digging;   foreclaws usually 4-5"; rear claws shorter
Track	Fore 6 to 8" long, 7 to 9" wide;  Hind 12 to 16" long, 8 to10-1/2" wide
Hierarchy	Large males Females with cubs (occasionally most dominant) Other adult males and females Single subadult males Other subadults
Vocalization	Aggravation   -champ, smack, woof Anger                                    -growl Extreme Anger                       -roar Contentment (sow with cub)  -humming sound Nervous                                 -bawl Summon cubs (sows)              -bleating sound
Estimated Number on Kodiak Island:	2,500 to 3,000

Home :: Explore Kodiak :: Business & Economy :: Plan a Trip :: Things to Do :: Plan a Meeting