Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Accepts Land Donation; Win-Win for Bears, Eagles

The bears and the eagles came out the winners in a recent land deal on Kodiak when two non-profit conservation groups added 160 acres of prime wildlife habitat to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. Humpy Creek, which bisects the property, is an important salmon stream. During late summer, brown bears and bald eagles concentrate in the area to feed on the abundant salmon.

The land is located in a remote area of the island, and future developments, such as commercial lodges, could have displaced bears and eagles from this critical feeding area. The donated land will now be managed in its natural state as part of the Kodiak Refuge.

The Kodiak Brown Bear Trust and Wildlife Forever donated $100,000 and $50,000, respectively, to buy the private land parcel. The land was formerly a Native allotment and is located on the southern tip of Kodiak within the Refuge boundary. The purchase was processed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office in Anchorage, and was concluded on July 31, 1996.

The Kodiak Brown Bear Trust and Wildlife Forever have provided funding during the past several years for brown bear research in this area of the refuge.

FWS