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Post by tom on Feb 20, 2020 12:46:06 GMT -5
Well, as the article in reply # 353 states, the bisons can fend off bears better than cattle, but also, their size and strength allows them to break through the barbed wire fencing. I dont think there are many cases of bisons escaping though, should be very few.
I didn't recall seeing any reference to fencing of Bison on Kodiak or possibly I missed it? I did see what they call leases or land that is basically rented to use a better term. If you were going to fence in Bison they would likely use a "hot" fence to keep them in and that could be a large expense depending on the amount of acreage your planning to fence. Bison just by their nature need large expanses of grassland if they are being grass fed.
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Post by brobear on Feb 20, 2020 13:02:28 GMT -5
www.bioexpedition.com/kodiak-bear/ Kodiak bears are the largest subspecies of the Brown bears which has given them a reputation in the wild a being a force to reckon with. Seeing one unexpectedly in the wild definitely isn’t something most people are prepared for. The males can grow to be about 10 feet tall and weigh from 800 to 1,400 pounds. The females are smaller than that but still a very large size overall. They can be about 500 to 700 pounds. The enormous head of the Kodiak bear is worth taking a close look at. They also have powerful teeth and jaws that can tear through prey very quickly. They have bulky bodies so that they can store up fat. They will eat all they can in the summer so that they can live on the fat reserves while hibernating in the wintertime. The claws of a Kodiak bear are very sharp and long. They don’t have very good eyesight but them make up for it with their great sense of hearing and smell. The Kodiak bear is a subspecies of the Brown Bear. They branched off from other North American bears like the Grizzly bear about 10,000-12,000 years ago during the last ice age. These particular bears were able to become much larger in size due to the fact that they don’t have any natural predators in the area and the vast food supply offered allowed them to thrive. Due to the colder weather where they live though hibernation became a necessary part of their survival skills. The diet of this particular bear consists mostly of fish from May through September when the Salmon returns. Therefore they will be found in the areas around the waters on a regular basis during these months. After that, they also feed on berries and various types of fruit. Nuts will be consumed if they find them as well. Other plants will be a last resort of food when other sources aren’t readily available. Sometimes they will kill other animals as well in order to get enough food. Kodiak Bears are able to identify where they should be at a given time of the year for feeding. They are able to determine what is in season so they will feed in that given area and then move on to another. This allows them to take advantage of the various foods sources which may only be available to them during a limited period of time. *IMHO, a Kodiak bear might attack a bison calf if given the opportunity. The thing about these bears is, their habitat is far richer in food choices than that of most other brown bear populations. He would have no reason to risk injury in a face-off against a bull bison unless, of course, the bison picks a fight.
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Post by tom on Feb 20, 2020 13:09:21 GMT -5
I guess I should also have stated acreage will depend on the size of the herd. A few dozen up to 100 animals would not require a huge amount of property. I'm just guessing but Kodiak Island likely does not have large tracts of grassland anyway. If the Bison are supplemented with grain then that is an entirely different requirement for them. Just not enough information on how the ranchers on Kodiak are operating. I also do know that the majority of Bears on Kodiak are predominately on one side of the island so contact with Bears may not be common at all???.
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Post by tom on Feb 20, 2020 13:19:03 GMT -5
The diet of this particular bear consists mostly of fish from May through September when the Salmon returns. Therefore they will be found in the areas around the waters on a regular basis during these months. After that, they also feed on berries and various types of fruit. Nuts will be consumed if they find them as well. Other plants will be a last resort of food when other sources aren’t readily available. Sometimes they will kill other animals as well in order to get enough food. I read an article (maybe it got posted here) that the Bears on Kodiak due to berries being available later in summer are starting supplement their diet more and more with Berries and less Salmon. This was due to the availability later into the summer and probably less work to feed. Not sure where I read that though? The other notable article I read was that roughly 20% of Males do NOT hibernate which I'm guessing is due to the milder climate on Kodiak vs Interior Alaska and food availability.
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Post by brobear on Feb 20, 2020 13:20:17 GMT -5
From site given on reply #363: The Kodiak Wildlife Refuge has become the primary location for these bears to reside. In this environment humans can come to observe the bears but not harm them. This is a great place to get to experience these amazing bears in the wild with your own eyes. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_Kodiak_National_Wildlife_Refuge.png
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Post by tom on Feb 20, 2020 13:30:39 GMT -5
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Post by tom on Feb 20, 2020 13:38:32 GMT -5
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Post by tom on Feb 20, 2020 14:08:25 GMT -5
www.drovers.com/article/alaskan-rancher-claims-have-lost-30-cattle-kodiak-bear-attacksThis whole rancher Bear conflict on Kodiak is rather interesting. Of all places to raise cattle you choose an Island home to 3500 of the largest Brown Bears on Earth. Maybe I spoke too soon about it being uncommon for Bears coming in contact with livestock. This article was dated 2 years ago about a rancher who lost 30 head in one year. According to Alaskan Fish and Wildlife you can kill Bears that are preying on your livestock or defending your own life.
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 20, 2020 19:25:20 GMT -5
Well, as the article in reply # 353 states, the bisons can fend off bears better than cattle, but also, their size and strength allows them to break through the barbed wire fencing. I dont think there are many cases of bisons escaping though, should be very few.
I didn't recall seeing any reference to fencing of Bison on Kodiak or possibly I missed it? I did see what they call leases or land that is basically rented to use a better term. If you were going to fence in Bison they would likely use a "hot" fence to keep them in and that could be a large expense depending on the amount of acreage your planning to fence. Bison just by their nature need large expanses of grassland if they are being grass fed. Yeah, "the size and strength of bisons allow them to break through barbed wired fences much easier than cattle"
domainofthebears.proboards.com/post/25068/thread
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Post by brobear on Feb 20, 2020 19:49:21 GMT -5
14 yaks, - I've watched footage of yaks fighting with each other ( bull vs bull ). If you think bison can get rough, a yak in a shaggy storm on hoofs with long horns.
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Post by brobear on Mar 28, 2020 7:00:03 GMT -5
By Ursus Arctos - carnivora.net/brown-bear-ursus-arctos-t2935.html 835 pounds is an average for a sub-adult 8-9 year old Kodiak. Notice the section under Adult Weight. "Willard A. Troyer writes: Four males weighed in the fall ranged from 960 - 1,346 pounds and three spring species ranged from 813 - 1190 lbs." Take the median value between 813 and 1190, and you'll come up with an average of about 1000 lbs for boar Kodiak Brown Bears. ADF&G technical report on Alaskan Grizzlies suggests an average weight of 441 kg, or 974 lbs for mature (>10 y.o.) Brown Bears from Alaska Peninsula. Kodiak Bear.
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Post by theundertaker45 on May 26, 2020 8:43:37 GMT -5
Kodiak Bear Weight Analysis
It isn't fully clear if the Kodiak bear is a distinct subspecies of Ursus arctos as of today, however, I'll just use the only available weight data on bears that were weighed on Kodiak island specifically.
Age Group 5-6 years
Males: 282.6kg (623lbs, n=3) Females: 168.3kg (371lbs, n=16)
Age Group 6-7 years:
Males: 235.9kg (520lbs, n=2) Females: 199.6kg (440lbs, n=5)
Age Group 7-8 years:
Males: 253.1kg (558lbs, n=3) Females: 208.2kg (459lbs, n=5)
Age Group 8-9 years:
Males: 378.8kg (835lbs, n=5) Females: 197.8kg (436lbs, n=6)
Age Group 9 years+:
Males (Fall): 523kg (1156lbs, n=2) Males (Spring): 454.3kg (1001.5lbs, n=2)
Overall (5 years+, sexually mature):
Males: 348.8kg (769lbs, n=17) Females: 184.9kg (407.7lbs, n=32)
Overall (9 years+, fully grown):
Males: 488.6kg (1077.3lbs, n=4)
The data used is from Troyers's and Hensel's work "The Brown Bear of Kodiak Island" published in 1969.
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Post by King Kodiak on May 26, 2020 9:08:27 GMT -5
Well, most bear biologists agree that it is a different subspecies, and i fully agree. They have been isolated from the mainland for about 12.000 years, also, their size. Also, kodiak bears have developed more complex social structures and communication that lets them live together with minimal conflict.
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Post by brobear on May 26, 2020 9:22:09 GMT -5
Well, most bear biologists agree that it is a different subspecies, and i fully agree. They have been isolated from the mainland for about 12.000 years, also, their size. Also, kodiak bears have developed more complex social structures and communication that lets them live together with minimal conflict. Many of the "experts" consider them close relatives of the Kamchatka bears. I will consider this probable until proven wrong.
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Post by theundertaker45 on May 26, 2020 9:24:47 GMT -5
All the bears inhabiting the coastal regions (Alaska Peninsula/Kamchatka/Kodiak) seem to be genetically related to each other and assumingly differ from the inland populations. I really hope that some studies will be conducted on this matter.
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Post by King Kodiak on May 26, 2020 9:29:37 GMT -5
I agree. Lets not try to merge subspecies now, kodiak bear is unique.
URSUS ARCTOS MIDDENDORFFI THE BEST OF THE LAND.
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Post by theundertaker45 on May 26, 2020 9:38:10 GMT -5
No one commented on the near 1100lbs average weight figure for fully grown Kodiak bears yet; that result is astonishing in my eyes.
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Post by King Kodiak on May 26, 2020 9:41:25 GMT -5
No one commented on the near 1100lbs average weight figure for fully grown Kodiak bears yet; that result is astonishing in my eyes. Did not realize it. Yeah, that is truly amazing. And those are 7 bears weighted, so pretty reliable.
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Post by King Kodiak on May 26, 2020 9:44:16 GMT -5
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Post by King Kodiak on May 26, 2020 9:50:38 GMT -5
Theundertaker, is that average weight of 1089 lbs in spring after hibernation? Or in Autumn just before hibernation?
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