Kodiak Kings

Photo by Jon Wilson

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, they are the largest bears in the world. Kodiaks are actually a sub-species of brown bears 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. Bears, unless with cubs, 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.

From Kodiak there are several places to fly in order to see bears. During the early salmon run its 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 interests. 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 wrap 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 the Sitkalidik Straights. After landing in the water and disembarking, your guide will escort you to several bear viewing areas in Katmai.

Photo by Jon Wilson

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 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 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.

No matter which way you fly in Kodiak, the opportunity to see these massive and majestic bears is an experience you won’t want to miss.

Photo by Jon Wilson