Last Updated on April 27, 2026 1:20 pm
LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, bid farewell to one of its beloved black bears, Kodiak, on April 24. A resident of the nature park’s Mildred the Bear Environmental Habitats, he was humanely euthanized following advanced-age-related complications, including severe arthritis, that led to difficulty standing and walking. He was 27 years old.
“Kody, as we affectionately called him, will be deeply missed by the mountain and friends of the mountain,” said Christie Tipton, animal habitats curator for Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “Many of us have not known a time on the mountain without Kody, so this will be a very difficult adjustment for keepers, staff and all who knew him.”
Easy to spot by guests and keepers, Kody was a cinnamon-colored black bear. The majority of black bears are black in color with or without a white patch on their chest. However, black bears also can be seen in other color phases, such as the cinnamon phase, a blond phase, a blue phase or a rare white phase. Less than 1% of black bears in the Eastern U.S. are cinnamon in color. About 10% are cinnamon in the Western U.S., where Kody was born.
Kodiak, or Kody, came to Grandfather Mountain on April 13, 1999, from a facility out west. At the time, he was only three to four months old and weighed in at only eight pounds – he had not yet learned how to crawl forward. He flew into Charlotte, N.C., where his new keepers picked him up and transported him to his new home on the mountain.
At his passing, Kody was the only male black bear out of six resident bears in the wildlife habitats. He was very laid back and sure of himself, despite being shy and timid during his younger days. Though he was much larger than the other bears, as an adolescent bear, he could often be found hiding in a tree and whining when other bears got into an argument with one another. Eventually, Kody realized that he was at least 150 pounds larger than the other bears and that he didn’t have to run from them anymore. As Kody grew into his later years, he weighed around 500 pounds, making him the largest resident black bear on the mountain.
“Kody had an enormous personality,” said Tipton, “he loved to be the dominant bear but, he also loved snuggling with all his girls and playing during the spring season. Kody loved to lounge on rocks in the sun and splash in his pond when he wasn’t with the girls.”
During his time at Grandfather, Kody fathered 10 cubs who were released into the wild by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in an effort to help boost the local bear population. This practice is no longer continued due to the bear population becoming stable.
When it came to food and enrichments, Kody was always ready with his mouth wide open. His favorite enrichments were sunflower seeds with honey, peanut-butter-covered balls and pumpkins.
In Memoriam
For those looking to honor Kodiak’s legacy, donations can be made in his memory to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. Those gifts will aid in the care of its resident animals, all of whom were either orphaned or injured in the wild or born into captivity before arriving at Grandfather, thus unfit for release into the wild.
To contribute, visit www.grandfather.com/donate.
The animals also have an Amazon.com wish list, featuring food, toys and supplies. Donors can choose a gift for their favorite animal, purchase it online and have it delivered straight to Grandfather Mountain for immediate enjoyment by their furry or feathered friends. The list of suggested items is available at www.grandfather.com/animal-enrichment-wishlist.
The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world through education, exploration and example. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com.
Kodiak the Black Bear_Photo by Leslie Restivo_Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation: Grandfather Mountain, the not-for-profit nature park run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, bid farewell to one of its beloved black bears, Kodiak, on April 24. He was 27 years old. (Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation / Leslie Restivo)
Kodiak in Grandfather Habitat Pond_Photo by Skip Sickler_Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation: Kodiak, or Kody, came to Grandfather Mountain on April 13, 1999, from a facility out west. At the time, he was only three to four months old and weighed in at only eight pounds – he had not yet learned how to crawl forward. He flew into Charlotte, N.C., where his new keepers picked him up and transported him to his new home on the mountain. (Photo Courtesy of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation / Skip Sickler)
