Reproduction

The Kodiak bears' breeding season begins in late May and ends in July. The Kodiak females reach sexual maturity at 4-7 years of age, while Kodiak males reach maturity at the same age but aren't large enough, physically, to breed until they are 8-10 years old. During mating season females are receptive for only one or two weeks. This means that the females can only breed during those 2 weeks. Nothing distracts a breeding male Kodiak unless a larger and more intimidating male Kodiak appears, frightening the smaller bear in to flight.

When a male Kodiak finds a mate he will usually stay with her throughout their whole estrus period. After the male bear copulates the female bear, the fertilizied egg floats freely in the uterus until late Autumn when the female bear finds a den for the winter. Due to the delayed implantation the actual fetal growth takes about 60 days. A Kodiak female will give birth 180 days after copulation due to this delayed implantation. The cubs are born in their dens around Janurary, Feburary and March, during hibernation. They are born at this time so that their is no threat from another male bear entering the cub's den as about 10-40% of all cubs that are born die, as a result of male bear attacks or attacks by wolves.

A Kodiak female will breed every three years after having produced a litter once. The sizes of a Kodiak litter ranges from one to four cubs. The most common amount of cubs born in a litter is two. The cubs will remain with their mother for at least two and a half years, or even less. All females and males of the Kodiak species do stop breeding at a certain age, which is approximately 26 years of age.

Amongst the Kodiak, as well as other species of bears, there is an instant bond formed between cub and mother that lasts for the average 2-5 year duration of which the cub stays with its mother. If a cub survives its first five years of life, it is almost guaranteed that it will live out the average longevity age for all Kodiak males at 25 years.