Grandfather Mountain said goodbye to one of its long-time residents, Kodiak the black bear.
Kodiak, also known as Kody, was euthanized on April 24 after age-related complications, including severe arthritis. This caused him issues with standing and walking. He was 27.
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"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," Christie Tipton, animal habitats curator for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
Kody arrived at Grandfather Mountain on April 13, 1999. He was only four months old and weighed eight pounds.He grew to be the largest black bear on the mountain after weighing 500 pounds.
During his time there, he fathered 10 cubs. They ended up being released into the wild by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
“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," she said.
Donations can be made in Kody's memory to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. The money will help take care of other animals at the mountain.