WHEN Russian fur traders explored the island of Kodiak in the 1760s, they encountered a bristling monster nearly ten feet tall with menacing teeth and massive legs. Frightened men had seen brown bears in Siberia, but none looked like this giant! The merchants nicknamed him "Ivan the Terrible." Today, this giant bruin is called a Kodiak bear.

Suddenly, finding a papa bear who is over ten feet tall and weighs over 1,300 pounds can be very scary. As for the characteristics of Mr. Kodiak Bear, they are his high and curved shoulders, which hide a large muscle mass above his shoulder blades. You could call him "the muscle man" in your area.

Life on an island at home

Papa Bear can reach 1,500 pounds in the fall of the year, but the considerably smaller mother rarely weighs more than 650 pounds. However, you will be more impressed by their adult size when you discover that three babies, born in the dead of winter, are small enough to fit in the empty hands of a man. Like a pathetic child from birth: hairless, blind, and weighing a pound. It may seem difficult to imagine that he will reach the majestic stature of his parents.

After a few months, spring temperatures rise and the little ones weigh five to fifteen pounds. All growing babies gain weight rapidly, which is why by midsummer they weigh twenty pounds. When they're ready for a winter nap with their mother next fall, they'll weigh 45 pounds. The younger brother continues to grow and becomes an "adult" between the ages of eight and ten. The little sister finished growing up at the age of six.

While older, mature bears tend to look very dignified and solemn, younger bears are playful and mischievous. His wives and their struggles can even entertain his mother. In the spring, when the snow remains at higher altitudes, the bears were observed gliding over the snow banks, often repeating the performance several times. Like all God's creatures, the sight of these wild animals playing is a human delight.

On the southern coast of Alaska is Kodiak Island, the only home to this giant bear. It is largely mountainous and the steep slopes and dense, intricate undergrowth make travel difficult for humans. But for Mr. Bear, this is another matter. You walk faster than a man can walk, and even the steep, rocky slopes don't seem to slow you down. It is sometimes seen in areas that make us wonder if it is part of a mountain goat. When he is scared, he will increase his speed to a gallop that will drag him over logs and through bushes at surprising speed. Although it is often depicted standing on its hind legs, this is not done by walking any distance. But it is common practice for him to be nearly ten feet tall when his curiosity is piqued or when he needs to identify an intruder in dense vegetation.

An island of wild and natural beauty is a suitable habitat for this magnificent animal. Preferring to be near the salty sea breeze, this brown giant doesn't roam inland much. In summer, the temperature rarely exceeds 26 ° C. The forests of alder, willow and aspen are beautiful resting places for Mr. Bear Kodiak and his home. Although winter temperatures rarely drop below zero degrees F., all is not calm in this vital part of the island. In winter, the howling winds exert their fury, sending massive waves against the rocky shoreline. Fog and heavy rain are common. It's nice that designer provided hair is not only warm, but also water repellent!