MARSHFIELD, Wisc. (WJFW) –Kodiak Bears are a rare subspecies of brown bears that live on the Kodiak Island in Alaska. But Wisconsin residents are able to travel to a nearby zoo to see them up close.
In the middle of the city of Marshfield lives a marvel that you wouldn’t expect to find.
Wildwood Park and Zoo is home to two Kodiak bears, a subspecies of brown bear. This is one of only two locations in the lower 48 states you can see this type of bear.
“Kodiak bears is what we’re seeing with a really unique form of island gigantism.” Said Zoo Director, Kyle Kirk. “So, like I said with a finite amount of resources the Kodiak need to fight. Because Kodiak Island was separated from eh mainland about a thousand years ago. And just generationally only the biggest and the baddest bears have survived”
Although he’s been the director of Wildwood Zoo for only 6 weeks, Kirk can tell how special these bears are and is proud to manage them.
“As of now, I manage over half of the amount of Kodiak bears in the lower 48.” Said Kirk.
The two resident bears, named Munsey and Boda, and their brother Dodge were rescued in 2015 after their mother was illegally shot by hunters on Kodiak Island.
At only 4 months old, the cubs were left to fend for themselves.
Luckily, guides from Munsey’s Bear Camp had been observing the bear family and had reported the orphaned cubs to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game as soon as possible. On the same day, the rescue party was able to save them from their den.
The cubs were named after 3 members of the rescue team. Big game guides, Mike Munsey, and Harry Dodge, and biologist Nate Svoboda.
After being nursed to health for a few months, 2 of the cubs, Munsey and Boda were sent to Wildwood Zoo, while Dodge was sent to a zoo in Toledo Ohio.
“It’s something to be proud of.” Said Kirk “And it’s something that we as a community should be proud of. And it’s something we should honor and celebrate.”
When the cubs were up for adoption, the Wildwood Zoo was remodeling their bear habitat and was looking for bears to call it home. Due to space restrictions, they were only able to adopt two of the cubs.
Through community donations, the zoo was able to expand on their original bear exhibit and add a bridge that leads to a wooded area that allows Munsey and Boda to practice natural behaviors.
Kirk says this habitat is unique and allows him to properly educate visitors on Kodiak Bears.
“This is one of the only places in the country you can see bears cross in a bridge style over into another habitat.” Said Kirk. “So, we are so fortunate that our bears can feel natural grass and they get the opportunity to dig and exhibit some more of that natural behavior”
Some natural behaviors they show are digging for roots and climbing up trees.
When standing up, Kodiak bears can reach up to 12 feet and on average they weigh 1500 pounds
Boda weighs around 1350 pounds while Munsey is 1250. The brother bears eat a five-gallon bucket of produce everyday plus various meats like steak and lobster. But occasionally, they get treats like jelly or mini marshmallows.
The bears are fed and examined in caged areas for the safety of the zookeepers.
Kirk says he is amazed at the community response to the bears.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have these bears.” Said Kirk “They are our showstoppers. When they’re not out and their napping inside, we hear about it. And it’s really remarkable because you can’t come and see them in this kind of habitat anywhere else in the country.”
For those wondering why the bears were never returned to the wild, Kirk says that Munsey and Boda did not experience the formative two-year growth with their mother that would have taught them essential survival skills. Due to this, they would not survive the conditions of Kodiak Island.
The zoo offers scheduled tours that tells visitors about the bears and their story.
Wildwood is open year-round and is free to the public. The zoo is also home to many different rehabilitated animals like mountain lions, porcupines, foxes and a variety of birds.
