Kodiak Bear

The largest brown bear subspecies is the Kodiak Bear. It is four feet four inches tall at the shoulder and measures eight feet from nose to tail. It is only slightly smaller than the polar bear. It may weigh up to 1320 pounds. Only found in the Kodiak Archipelago, this bear's population appears to be growing.

Like other brown bears, the Kodiak has tiny eyes in a big, rounded head on top of somewhat short ears. It has robust but short for the body limbs, and the deadly claws on its front paws are fixed. Even though bears typically have brown fur, some have been observed with blond or black fur. Many people are surprised to learn that brown bears are largely herbivorous and eat grasses, roots, berries, nuts, and bulbs and turn to salmon when they start to run in May. Interestingly, the bears seem to be so fond of elderberries that when they ripen at the same time the salmon are running, they’ll prefer the berries.