Kodiak brown bears are massive, powerful, and—at first glance—can look quite similar regardless of gender. But with a bit of observation and the right knowledge, you can learn to distinguish a boar (male) from a sow (female) in the wild.
This skill can add depth to your bear watching experiences and help you understand more about their behaviors, especially if you’re lucky enough to view them in the wilds of Kodiak Island, Alaska.
Size and Build: Bigger Isn't Always Better… Unless You're a Boar
The most obvious difference is size. Adult male Kodiak bears are typically much larger than females. Boars can weigh over 1,200 pounds, with some tipping the scales at 1,500 pounds or more. They tend to have a heavier, bulkier build with broader heads, thicker necks, and heavily muscled shoulders.
Females, in contrast, are more streamlined and less blocky in appearance. They generally max out around 600 to 800 pounds, though large sows can appear closer in size to younger or leaner males, especially during the summer before the fall fattening season.
Head Shape and Facial Features
Boars tend to have a wider, more square-shaped head and thicker, shorter necks. Their faces often appear flatter and more robust, particularly around the snout and jaw.
Sows have narrower, more tapered heads with longer-looking snouts and slightly more delicate facial features. If you get a good profile view, look for a smoother, more sloped forehead in females.
Reproductive Clues
The presence of cubs is the clearest giveaway that you’re looking at a sow.
Females typically give birth in the den during winter and raise cubs for 2 to 3 years, meaning there’s a good chance of seeing young bears with their mother in spring and summer.
Boars, on the other hand, never take part in raising offspring. In fact, adult males can be dangerous to cubs, as they sometimes kill them to bring the mother back into estrus.
Behavior: Solitude vs. Family Life
Male Kodiak bears are usually solitary, especially outside of mating season. They may be seen walking alone, often covering long distances and keeping a noticeable distance from other bears unless they’re competing or mating.
Females, especially those with cubs, are far more likely to be seen in small groups.
A sow with cubs will stay close to them, guiding them across rivers or helping them fish. She’s also highly alert to other bears, particularly males, which may pose a threat to her young.
If you see a bear acting extremely cautious or defensive—frequently looking over her shoulder or bluff-charging others—it’s likely a mother protecting her cubs.
Urination and Genital Markers (Advanced Observation)
This is for the seasoned observer with binoculars or a telephoto lens: you can sometimes identify gender based on how a bear urinates.
Females tend to urinate directly below or behind them, while males will urinate forward and downward, with more visible genitalia if seen from the right angle.
This method isn’t always practical—or polite—but for scientific observation or photography, it can be one more clue.
Recognizing the differences between male and female Kodiak brown bears helps deepen your appreciation for their behaviors and survival strategies.
Whether it’s a lone boar lumbering across a river or a protective sow fishing with her cubs, each encounter offers a window into the incredible lives of these apex predators.
Just remember—whether you’re observing males (Boars) or females (Sows), always do so from a safe distance, with respect for the bear’s space and natural behavior. After all, you’re a guest in their world.
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.