Bear Facts Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

The interior grizzly and the coastal brown bear (including Kodiak brown bears) are both scientifically named "Ursus arctos". The main difference in the two is related to geographical range. The coastal brown bear is found mainly in maritime areas along the coast of Alaska where there are abundant salmon resources, while the interior grizzly is found mainly within the interior areas of Alaska and feeds primarily on non- salmonid resources. The Kodiak brown bear is classified as "Ursus arctos middendorffi" and is considered a distinct subspecies. This subspecies classification is based mainly upon skeletal characteristics and geographic isolation. The black bear, "Ursus americanus", is found some coastal areas and interior areas of Alaska, but not on Kodiak.

Life History of the Kodiak Brown Bear:

Size range for females is from 500 to 700 pounds and for males 800 to 1,400 pounds. There can be a difference of 20 to 30 percent gain in weight between when they emerge from dens in the spring and when they den up in the late fall.

The oldest recorded bear was a 35 year-old female. The initial breeding age is at approximately six years-old and they will usually have two cubs in the first litter and can have up to four in subsequent litters. The average litter size is 2.3 cubs. In general, most cubs remain with their mothers until they are 2-3 years-old.

Kodiak bears breed in spring (May to early-June) and an adult female may mate with several adult males. Cubs are born in the den the following winter ( January or February) due to delayed implantation, and each sibling cub could be from a different father.

In general, after leaving the den in the spring, bears move to lower elevations where they may feed on carrion, roots or other freshly emergent vegetation. As spring progresses, they feed in the high alpine areas below the snow-line on succulent forbs and sedges. During summer, many bears move to, and stay near, streams when salmon are available in local streams. Between July and September, bears routinely supplement their diet with berries—especially salmonberry, elderberry and crowberry. After berry availability declines in September, most bear use focuses on streams which provide late run salmon. Some bears may prey on deer, but it depends on the individual bear.

Brown bears den in early-to-late November depending on the geographical location within the refuge. Some bears may move den sites one or more times or not den up at all. In addition, some non-denning bears that inhabit lowland areas such as the Aliulik Peninsula on the south end of Kodiak Island switch their foraging efforts to the marine shoreline.

The population of brown bears on the Kodiak Archipelago is estimated at approximately 3,000 animals of which approximately 2,300 of these are found within the boundaries of the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. Approximately 180 to 200 of these bears use the 236 mile square Karluk Lake drainage.

Bear Management:

Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Refuge's management goals for brown bear are to maintain current density, distribution, habitat use patterns, and a diversity of all sex and age classes for the benefit of both consumptive and non-consumptive users. In partnership with the Citizen’s Advisory Committee, a stakeholder group, the Department and Refuge completed the Kodiak Bear Conservation and Management Plan in 2002. This plan provides a comprehensive framework for future education, research, and management of bear habitat, populations, recreational uses, and human interactions throughout the archipelago and refuge. To see this plan, visit: http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/management/planning/kodiakbb.cfm.

The strategy for management of sport hunting is to not exceed approximately six (6) percent of the total population annually. Also, more than 60 percent of the annual take of bears needs to be males. Brown bear habitat is conserved by the refuge through regulation of human activity in key areas used by bears for feeding and denning.

Sport hunting for Kodiak bears occurs in the spring (April 1- May 15) and fall (October 25-November 30). Hunting is limited to the taking of single bears only; the taking of cubs and females with cubs is prohibited. Managers divided the archipelago into 29 lottery permit hunt units and one open registration area encompassing the road system on the northeastern end of Kodiak Island. All non-resident hunters that are successful in obtaining a permit must hunt with a certified Big Game Guide. The ratio between resident and non-resident hunters is approximately 68 and 32 percent respectively. The number of permits issued varies by hunt unit, residency, and season. In general, each hunt area has approximately 14 permits per-unit per-season with the bulk of the permits issued in the spring because of the higher percentage of male bears available for harvest. Twenty-six of the hunt units are located within the boundaries of the Kodiak Refuge.

The total annual sport hunting harvest of Kodiak bears is approximately 160 animals of which approximately 75 percent (120) are taken on the refuge. Approximately 68 percent of the total sport harvest is composed of male bears. Approximately 10 bears are taken in Defense of Life and Property (DLP) each year in the archipelago. Most of these bears taken are within the villages or associated with remote recreational activity such as deer hunting.

Subsistence hunting for brown bear occurs under federal management on federal lands within the boundaries of the Kodiak Refuge. There are a total of 11 permits available for all Native villages within the Kodiak Archipelago. Each village must select a Native hunter for their respective number of permits. There is a spring (April 1- May 15) and fall (December 1-15) hunt. Although there are no designated hunt units within the Refuge for subsistence, a general hunt area for each village is recommended when the permits are issued. Hunting is limited to the taking of single bears only; the taking of cubs and females with cubs is prohibited. Subsistence hunting for brown bear was initiated in the spring of 1997 when two animals were taken. During the succeeding regulatory year (fall of 1997, spring of 1998) a total of five bears were taken.

Bear viewing is an important business in Kodiak, popular public use of the Refuge, and current focus of management planning effort. In 1997, wildlife viewing composed 49% of visitor inquires made to the Kodiak Island Convention and Visitor Bureau. Among these viewing inquiries, 95% requested information about Kodiak bears. Additionally, bear viewing services are highlighted by many air taxi and lodge businesses.

Bear viewing dominates the wildlife viewing segment of public use of the Refuge. Use is relatively stable, averaging 1,200 use days between 1994 and 1999. Guided viewing accounted for 57-87% of viewing use. The Refuge, in cooperation with the State of Alaska, presently is developing a strategy for managing bear viewing which reflects the wishes of local citizens, protects Kodiak bears, and facilitates safe and compatible bear viewing.

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