The Kodiak Island Brown Bear is the largest land meat-eater in the world. They are big; often can stand over ten feet tall, are incredibly intelligent, and have extremely keen senses. To some, they symbolize Kodiak and Alaska. Our guests are often surprised, however, to find bears grazing on grass, rolling and playing with their cubs, showing pouty facial expressions, and comically splashing around trying to bat a salmon out of a river.
We do see bears from Kodiak Raspberry Island Remote Lodge. However, they are hunted in the spring and fall, and, like a deer or anything else that is hunted, they are typically shy and are usually only seen from a distance. For this reason, we work closely with different sea plane charter services in the area and have them pick you up at the lodge and fly down to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge or over to nearby Katmai National Park. Upon landing, your pilot will guide you a short walk into bear country. He or she will focus on your safety and the comfort of the animals, all the while presenting you with an experience of a lifetime as the bears often get very close. It is very exciting and highly recommended on any trip to Alaska.
Our most popular fly out bear viewing trip includes a pick up here at the lodge in an Alaskan Bush Plane, where you’ll board and enjoy a scenic flight along the coast in search of a concentration of bear. Your pilot will then land the plane, and you will be guided in on foot to spend two hours with these magnificent animals in their natural habitat, before returning to the coast for the flight back to the lodge. Over the years our guests have had up close and personal experiences with Brown Bear as they feed on early spring grass, chase an abundance of salmon while returning to the rivers to spawn, raise their cubs, fight over territory, and even mate. It is a tremendous experience with one of Alaska’s most important animals.
My wife will never forgive you if you get my *@# bit by a bear!
~ Carl R., Vermont
