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Kodiak is a unique animal of the bear family, belonging to the subspecies of brown bears. These animals belong to the largest predators among those that live on land. A striking feature of this bear is its rather large size, which is comparable only with the size of a polar bear. It should be noted that kodiak is much more than all other types of brown bears, it is not surprising, because the polar bear is considered the largest beast of the bear family.
The body weight of female kodiak varies from 230 to 320 kilograms. Males are much larger, their weight can reach 635 kilograms. In general, the average mass of males found varies from 470 to 540 kilograms, however, before wintering, the mass can reach up to 680 kilograms. After hibernation, bears tend to lose weight, but during the summer and the period of preparation for the winter, on the contrary, they gain.Kodiak bears increase in size until the age of 6 years, after which their growth stops.
The average height of the kodiak bear at the withers can be called the size of 150 centimeters. If the animal stands on its hind legs, then its growth can reach 3 meters. The largest Kodiak bear was a member of the family living in the Colorado Springs Zoo. The mass of the animal reached 757 kilograms, and the body length was 340 centimeters. The bear died in 1955.
Today, ecologist-activist Chris Morgan is studying the Kodiak bears. It is he who makes detailed descriptions of not only the appearance, but also the way of life of these animals. Among the popular bears who starred in the movie, there is also a kodiak named Barth. This bear was filmed in the films "On the Edge" and "The Bear."
Where dwells?
Appearance of a bear
The Kodiak bear is a pretty strong beast, for which he must say thanks to the peculiarities of his muscular body. In addition, the animal has long and very strong limbs. Kodiak has a massive head with small neat ears. The tail, like most bears, is short.
The color is predominantly brown, there may be lighter or darker shades of wool. As a rule, light wool is found in bears that live in the northern part of the archipelago, and dark wool is found in representatives of the southern territory. Juveniles have a small white polo around their necks, which disappears with time.
Pairing and breeding
In general, kodiak bear refers to animals that prefer loneliness. The animal forms a pair only during the mating period, which falls mainly on the summer months, mainly June and July. Childbirth in such a situation falls on the period of hibernation, as a rule, at the beginning of winter. The maximum female can be born 3 bear cubs. Toddlers are raised by a female and are close to her for about 4 years. Only after this milestone does the young individuals begin to lead an independent life.Kodiak bears reach sexual maturity by 5 years, however, the first birth of females traditionally falls on the age of 9 years. Between the processes of labor takes about 4 years.
What is eating?
Kodiak, like most members of the bear family, feeds on plant food, berries, various herbs, plant roots, and fish. It is worth noting that the fish occupies a considerable place in the diet of kodiak bears, therefore animals often move to shallow rivers during the spawning period of salmon. As a rule, this time is in summer or autumn. Bears are located on the shore or go straight into the river, catch fish right in the water or in the air when it jumps out. Can be included in the diet of bears and carrion.
It is quite simple to look for food to a kodiak, because it has an excellent sense of smell, which is significantly superior to the dog's scent. In comparison with dogs, a bear has a scent about 4 times sharper and more sensitive. In addition, Kodiak is smart enough, this bear also surpasses dogs in the degree of development, however, it still does not reach the level of the primate's brain.
Lifespan
The highest mortality in kodiak bears occurs between the ages of 3 and 5 years, immediately after the older bear cub leaves the mother and begins to live independently. Survives in this period, only 6 out of 10 males and 9 out of 10 females. Such a difference is connected with the fact that females in adulthood do not go far from the mother, but remain nearby. Males, on the contrary, tend to retire away. In addition, females, in principle, live significantly longer than males. Among the known cases, the maximum lifespan of females was 34 years. In males, the longest life expectancy was 27 years.
Can it attack a person?
In general, kodiak bears traditionally avoid any encounters with people, therefore attacks on humans are extremely rare. For example, during the entire 20th century, there were only two such cases that led to the death of people. Incidents occurred in the years 1921 and 1999. Moreover, in that and in another case, hunters were injured, who tried to catch and kill the kodiak bear. From the first shot, the hunters did not succeed in doing this; they only injured the animals. As a result, angry animals tore hunters.Therefore, in these cases it cannot be said that the attack was caused by the aggression of animals, the fault lies more with the hunters themselves.
Number of species
Video: Kodiak (Ursus arctos middendorffi)
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