Page 59 - Breath of the Bear

Kodiak Kings
There are bears and then there are Kodiak Kings. Weighing in at a whopping 1600 pounds and standing over five feet tall at the
shoulders on all fours, they are the largest bears in the world. When standing on its hind legs, a large male can reach a height
of 9 1/2 feet. Kodiaks are actually a sub-species of brown bear and they live only on the islands in the Kodiak Archipelago. The
population of these bears is extremely healthy and robust due to the rich variety of food sources, from high-protein grass to fish,
clams, elk, deer and berries. These bears do not have to compete for their meal. Unless with cubs, bears are solitary creatures
but will congregate together during the fish run in July through September. During these interactions they have developed a
unique and elaborate language that helps them communicate and avoid hostile interactions with each other.

Katmai National Park & Preserve
From Kodiak there are several places to fly
in order to see bears. During the early salmon
run, it’s best to fly west from Kodiak Island into
Katmai National Park and Preserve. Flying into
the park from Kodiak offers an entirely different
perspective than flying in from Homer or
Anchorage. All passengers can communicate
with the pilot via headsets as he points out
unique places of interest. The flight over the
island is spectacular as you view the beautiful,
rugged mountainous terrain. From the air
you’ll be able to see native villages and also
the possibility of mountain goats and deer on
the hillsides. The contrasting shades of green
envelope the island and make for a stunning
contrast against the blue of the sea. Watch
whales and other sea life bid you “hello” as you
continue over Shelikof Strait. After landing in
the water and disembarking, your guide will
escort you to one of several bear-viewing areas
in Katmai.
Fraser Fish Pass
When the salmon run is at its peak on Kodiak
island, the best place to see bears is at the
streams and rivers. During the early summer
they can be found grazing on grass in the
alpine meadows, but once the streams fill with
those delectable aquatic goodies, the bears
make their way south to the Frazer Fish Pass,
one of the most consistent bear viewing areas,
located 70 miles from the city of Kodiak. The
Frazer River has the second largest sockeye
salmon run on Kodiak, and the bears seem to
know it.
In 1963 the Alaska Department of Fish and
Wildlife built a fish ladder to help salmon
navigate around the 30-foot falls and into
Frazer Lake. The fish can get backed up at the
entrance to the ladder and bears have learned
that this is where they can get an easy meal.
Bears can be seen fishing, playing, napping
and even chewing on the fish ladder. Several
tour operators fly visitors to the Frazer Fish
Pass on a floatplane. Taking off from Kodiak
City, guests have the opportunity to see the
majesty of the island. Landing on Frazer Lake,
visitors and the guide disembark and hike 20
minutes to the fish pass. The viewing area is in
a natural setting which allows people to view
these undisputed kings in their pristine and
native environment.

If you are in Kodiak long enough, drive south
of Kodiak in the late afternoon to bear watch
like the locals do. The abundance of bears
See Video makes for great entertainment as they eat, fish
and interact with one another. Bears have even
been seen shimmying under a guard rail and
looking both ways before they cross the road.
No matter which way you travel in Kodiak, the
opportunity to see these massive and majestic
bears is an experience you won’t want to miss.

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