A Year in the Life of a Kodiak Brown Bear
The Kodiak brown bear, one of the largest land carnivores on Earth, leads a life shaped by the extreme rhythms of Alaska’s seasons. Found only in the Kodiak Archipelago, these bears have adapted to a yearly cycle that revolves around survival, reproduction, and preparing for the long Alaskan winter.
Spring: The Wake-Up Call
After spending up to six months hibernating in dens tucked into the island’s mountains or thick brush, Kodiak bears emerge groggy but hungry in late April or early May. Males are the first to rise, followed by females without cubs, and then females with new offspring—who remain tucked away a little longer for safety.
Food is scarce at first. The bears scour riverbanks and beaches, feeding on early greens like cow parsnip and sedge, or scavenging on winter-killed animals. This lean period doesn’t last long, though—once the salmon start returning, everything changes.
Summer: The Feast Begins
By June, the island is alive with food. Salmon runs bring an ocean’s worth of protein and fat to the streams, and bears gather in droves to catch fish. At places like Karluk Lake and Frazer River, you’ll see bears fishing shoulder to shoulder—well, as close as their solitary natures allow. It’s a feast that sets the tone for the rest of the year.
Cubs born during winter denning now trail behind their mothers, learning to fish, forage, and avoid bigger males who can pose a threat. This is also mating season, which brings large boars into contact with females. The bears may appear relaxed around each other, but tension runs high as competition and instincts collide.
Autumn: A Race Against Time
As the days shorten and temperatures drop, the bears get busy. Berries ripen in the alpine meadows—crowberries, blueberries, salmonberries—adding sugar to their already protein-heavy diets. Salmon continue to spawn and die, providing easy meals. Bears can gain up to four pounds a day during this time.
This intense eating is called hyperphagia, and it’s vital. They’re not just fattening up—they’re banking calories for a winter with no food at all.
Pregnant females, in particular, must store enough energy to survive hibernation and nourish cubs in the womb.
Winter: Deep Sleep
By late October or early November, snow dusts the mountains and the bears retreat into their dens. They’ll stay there through the winter, slowing their heart rates and surviving entirely off the fat reserves built during summer and fall.
Females give birth in January or February, usually to two cubs. These tiny, blind creatures nurse in the warmth of the den while the mother sleeps beside them.
Come spring, she’ll emerge with her young, ready to begin the cycle again.
The Kodiak brown bear’s year is one of remarkable timing and resilience. Every season is a chapter in their survival story—one tied closely to the rhythms of nature and the bounty of Kodiak Island. Whether it’s catching salmon mid-air or leading cubs across wildflower meadows, these bears remain one of Alaska’s most iconic—and awe-inspiring—wild residents.
Content Author & Alaska Photographer
I run photography workshops at KBBC and craft standout content for blogs and websites across Alaska and beyond. Alaska has a rhythm like nowhere else—its wild spaces, deep solitude, and endless light draw me back again and again, especially to Kodiak Island.