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Kodiak is a unique animal from the bear family, belonging to the subspecies of brown bears. These animals belong to the largest predators of 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 larger than all other types of brown bears, this is not surprising, because the polar bear is considered the largest animal in the bear family.
The body weight of female cognac varies in the range from 230 to 320 kilograms. Males are much larger, their mass 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 winter, on the contrary, they gain weight. Kodiak bears increase in size to 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 representative 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, Kodiak bears are being studied by environmental activist Chris Morgan. It is he who makes detailed descriptions of not only the appearance, but also the lifestyle of these animals. Among the popular bears who starred in the movie, there is also a cognac called Bart. This bear starred in the films "On the Edge" and "Bear".
Where does it live?
The appearance of the bear
The Kodiak bear is a rather strong beast, for this he must say thanks to the features 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 bear species, is short.
The color is predominantly brown; lighter or darker shades of coat may occur. As a rule, light hair is found in bears living in the northern part of the archipelago, and dark in representatives of the southern territory. Young individuals have a small white snake on their neck, which disappears over time.
Pairing and breeding
In general, the Kodiak bear refers to animals that prefer loneliness. The animal forms a pair only during the mating period, which occurs mainly in the summer months, mainly June and July. Delivery in this situation occurs during the period of hibernation, usually at the beginning of winter. Maximum 3 cubs can be born in a female. Kids are raised by a female and are next to her until about 4 years old. Only after this milestone, young individuals begin to lead an independent life. Kodiak bears reach puberty by the age of 5, however, females traditionally have their first birth at 9 years of age. Between the processes of labor, approximately 4 years pass.
What is eating?
Kodiak eats, like most members of the bear family - plant foods, berries, various herbs, plant roots, as well as fish. It is worth noting that fish occupies a considerable place in the diet of Kodiak bears, so animals often move to shallow rivers during salmon spawning. As a rule, this time falls on summer or autumn. Bears are located on the shore or go directly into the river, catch fish directly in the water or in the air when it jumps out. Can be included in the diet of bears and carrion.
Finding food for kodiak is quite simple, because it has an excellent sense of smell, which significantly exceeds the dog's scent. Compared to dogs, a bear has a scent about 4 times sharper and more sensitive. In addition, kodiak is smart enough, this bear is also superior to dogs in terms of development, however, it still does not reach the level of the brain of primates.
Life span
The greatest mortality in kodiak bears is observed at the age of 3 to 5 years, immediately after the adult bear cub leaves his mother and begins to live independently. Only 6 out of 10 males and 9 out of 10 females survive during this period. This difference is due to 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 much longer than males. Among known cases, the maximum life span 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 meetings with people, therefore attacks on humans are extremely rare. For example, during the entire 20th century, only two such cases were recorded that led to the death of people. Incidents occurred in 1921 and 1999. Moreover, in both cases, hunters who tried to catch and kill the Kodiak bear suffered. From the first shot, it didn’t work for the hunters, they only injured the animals. As a result, the furious beasts tore the hunters. Therefore, in these cases it is impossible to say that the attack was caused by animal aggression, rather the hunters themselves lay the blame.
Abundance of species
Video: Kodiak (Ursus arctos middendorffi)
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