6 Species Native to Kodiak, Alaska
There are only 6 species of land mammals native to Kodiak, and their diversity is a perfect representation of the diversity you will encounter on this beautiful island. From tiny to massive, these 6 species include the aptly named little brown bat, the elusive red fox, the playful river otter, the incredible Kodiak brown bear, the solitary ermine, and the active tundra vole.
Kodiak Brown Bear
Ursus arctus middendorffi
Up to 1,500 lbs, 10+ feet tall on hind legs
A subspecies of the brown bear, the Kodiak Brown Bear is found only in the Kodiak Archipelago in southwest Alaska, with the massive animals inhabiting Kodiak, Afognak, Shuyak, Uganik, Sitkalidak, and Raspberry islands.
About 3,500 Kodiak bears live here, thriving on several species of salmon, vegetation, berries, and sometimes carrion (dead animals). The Kodiak bear’s isolation from other brown bears for thousands of years has led to some unique characteristics, including:
Size - Larger than most mainland grizzly bears because of rich food sources
Population - Dense population (0.7 bears/square mile) due to preserved habitat and food sources
Behavior - Competition for food is lower, leading to more peaceful cohabitation on the island
Patterns - Seasonal patterns for denning and feeding are largely predictable
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Up to 15 lbs
Just like the massive Kodiak bear, Kodiak’s red fox is also the largest of the true foxes - weighing up to 15 pounds with a large, bushy tail and thick fur that can be red, black and silver, or feature a dark cross on its back.
It has few natural predators due to its location, leading to a rather curious and bold personality. Mostly active at night, these coastal foragers are opportunistic omnivores, dieting on sea urchins, berries, insects, voles, rabbits, birds, and other animals or plants they can find.
River Otter
Lontra canadensis
15 - 35 lbs, 40 - 60 in long
This small, muscular mammal with a powerful tail has no major predators other than humans. Their diet is quite varied, with snails, mussels, clams, sea urchins, crabs, shrimp, frogs, fish, birds, vegetation, and more. Small food is eaten on the water’s surface, and large food is taken and eaten on shore.
Graceful in water and fast on land, river otters can swim 6 MPH, dive at least 60 feet (staying below water for 4+ minutes at a time), and run more than 15 MPH on snow or ice by running and sliding along the surface. They generally live and travel in groups, and while fighting is rare, they do not share in their hunting catches.
Ermine (Short-tailed weasel)
Mustela erminea
Less than half a pound, about 13 in long
Also called stoats, the ermines primarily feast on another native species – the tundra voles. These color-changing animals are fast and adaptable, with a red-brown coat in summer and a bright white coat with a black-tipped tail in winter. They are adept at hiding and hunting and make their homes near streams and marshy meadows. Breeding just once per year, the ermine females birth between 4 and 13 young in each litter.
Tundra Vole
Microtus oeconomus
1.8 oz, about 7.1 in long
One of Kodiak’s original land mammals, the tundra voles serve as the primary food source for the ermine and the red fox. Their spot in the food chain makes them an important part of the ecosystem on Kodiak.
They also live in damp areas like meadows and the edges of lakes and streams, but their diet mainly consists of vegetation like sedges, seeds, bark, and plants. In traditional Alutiiq stories, the voles are often mischievous thieves, stealing food and leaving skeletons, tunnels, and chewed garbage behind at archaeological sites.
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
1/50 of a lb, 3 - 4 ½ in long
The smallest native land mammal on Kodiak, the little brown bat is as elusive as it is adorable. Their population size is unknown, as are their hibernation and migration patterns in winter. What scientists do know is that the presence of these nocturnal animals helps control the mosquito population. And while their wingspan is only 8 - 9 inches, the little brown bat can fly up to 22 miles per hour. Although they are not the only bat species on the island, they are the most widespread in their habitats.
A Home for the Wild
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Established by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge off the southwest coast of Alaska was created to protect the Kodiak brown bear’s natural habitat - and the many species that live within its ecosystem. Today, this wildlife paradise is home to more than 250 species of birds, mammals, and fish.
The sprawling 1.9-million-acre refuge is perfectly suited to a variety of animals, particularly the Kodiak brown bears, which find an abundance of vegetation, salmon, and berries here. The waters of the Karluk River enrich the land, and the Karluk Lake drainage area is home to one of the densest populations of bears in the world.
If you make the trip – only by floatplane or boat – you’ll be treated to countless opportunities for scenic hikes, memorable fishing and kayaking trips, birdwatching, hunting, wildlife viewing, and more.
