In a year of nature battling the unfortunate circumstances of the oil spill on the southern coastline, there's a miracle happening up north on the Ayakulik River, Kodiak Island, Alaska. Thriving on the rich resources of salmon and lush vegetation abundant on the "Emerald Island" is a mother Kodiak bear with four newborn cubs. A spectacular reassurance of nature at it's finest.
Kodiak bears, a subspecies of the brown bear, live exclusively on Kodiak Island where they have been isolated from other bears for 12,000 years. The Kodiak Archipelago brown bear population is estimated at 3,500 animals which turns out to be roughly .7 bears per square mile. Kodiak bears are the largest bears in the world. They can weigh up to 1500 lbs. As omnivores, their diets consist of grasses, berries, plants, insects, fish and meat.
Known as a rearing ground for bear families, the Ayakulik River is located on the southwest coastline of Kodiak Island. Typical Kodiak bear litter size is two to three cubs. Born in late January, cubs weigh less than a pound at birth. Hairless and eyes closed they suckle for several months before emerging in May or June.
The Ayakulik litter of four showed up in June 2010 weighing in at an estimated 15 - 20 lbs each. By early July the cubs, stronger and more mobile, are often observed following their mother around as she makes her rounds fishing the Ayakulik River system. With four healthy young cubs, the mother bear has a busy time ahead keeping herself and her cubs fed and protected. But this story has another surprise: this mother bear has a nanny to help her out.
Most cubs stay with their mother for 3 years. The mortality rate for cubs is generally around 25% largely due to cannibalism by adult males. Bears who have recently left their mothers often have a difficult time adjusting and can get themselves into trouble that is often fatal.
The young female bear acting as nanny seemed lost without the closeness of her own family. She eventually started to follow the the mother bear and four cubs at a respectable distance. The mother bear was cautious and hesitant of her at first. The young female persisted, shadowing the mother and family, closing the distance of separation, until the mother bear accepted her into the family.
All six bears sleep together. The mother bear lets the young female rest her head upon her leg as she nurses her cubs, and she'll leave the cubs and young bear together on the shoreline while she fishes for salmon within the river.
Will keep you posted on the daily lives of this very special and unique bear family!!
Kodiak bears, a subspecies of the brown bear, live exclusively on Kodiak Island where they have been isolated from other bears for 12,000 years. The Kodiak Archipelago brown bear population is estimated at 3,500 animals which turns out to be roughly .7 bears per square mile. Kodiak bears are the largest bears in the world. They can weigh up to 1500 lbs. As omnivores, their diets consist of grasses, berries, plants, insects, fish and meat.
Known as a rearing ground for bear families, the Ayakulik River is located on the southwest coastline of Kodiak Island. Typical Kodiak bear litter size is two to three cubs. Born in late January, cubs weigh less than a pound at birth. Hairless and eyes closed they suckle for several months before emerging in May or June.
The Ayakulik litter of four showed up in June 2010 weighing in at an estimated 15 - 20 lbs each. By early July the cubs, stronger and more mobile, are often observed following their mother around as she makes her rounds fishing the Ayakulik River system. With four healthy young cubs, the mother bear has a busy time ahead keeping herself and her cubs fed and protected. But this story has another surprise: this mother bear has a nanny to help her out.
Most cubs stay with their mother for 3 years. The mortality rate for cubs is generally around 25% largely due to cannibalism by adult males. Bears who have recently left their mothers often have a difficult time adjusting and can get themselves into trouble that is often fatal.
The young female bear acting as nanny seemed lost without the closeness of her own family. She eventually started to follow the the mother bear and four cubs at a respectable distance. The mother bear was cautious and hesitant of her at first. The young female persisted, shadowing the mother and family, closing the distance of separation, until the mother bear accepted her into the family.
All six bears sleep together. The mother bear lets the young female rest her head upon her leg as she nurses her cubs, and she'll leave the cubs and young bear together on the shoreline while she fishes for salmon within the river.
Will keep you posted on the daily lives of this very special and unique bear family!!
The Ayakulik Lodge is the most amazing place! It soothes my soul to know there are still places like this on the planet. I've only been here a couple of days and already I've learned so much from the bears and our hosts - about living harmoniously with these amazing animals.
ReplyDeleteI really like this post and thanks for sharing. We offer alaskan adventure tours. Plan now.
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