Kodiak Bear

One of the series of postage stamps for a hypothetical independent nation of Alaska. Features a digital painting of a Kodiak Bear on a neutral parchment, or old paper, background. Text reading "Alaska," "Postage 8 Nuggets," and Kodiak Bear Ursus arctos middendorffi" also appear. The Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), a subspecies of the brown, or grizzly, bear are the world's largest bears. A full grown male can be over ten feet tall when upright on his hind legs and weigh over 1500 pounds - truly a sight to behold. One bear in the Bismarck, North Dakota zoo was estimated to have weighed as much as 2400 pounds. The bears live on the islands of Alaska's Kodiak Archipelago. Today there are approximately 3500 Kodiak bears and their numbers are increasing due to the generally excellent condition of their habitat including sufficient fist to eat. They are called "takuka-aq" in Alutiiq, the language of the people's native to that area. The bears are believed to have been isolated there since toward the end of the last Ice Age over 12,000 years ago. Though they are the largest terrestrial carnivore their diet includes large amounts of grass, other plants and berries. Today there are approximately 3500 Kodiak bears and their numbers are increasing due to the generally excellent condition of their habitat including sufficient fish to eat. Due to the abundance of food resources Kodiak bears have smaller home ranges than any other brown bears and have no need to defend territories. The Alutiiq people hunted bears for food, clothing and tools. Arrows, spears, and a great deal of courage were required hunting equipment. Bear heads were usually left in the field as a sign of respect to the spirit of the bears.