SamThe diverse wildlife in Alaska is one of the most exciting aspects of visiting the Last Frontier. However, as many wildlife lovers may know, it can often be difficult to have luck spotting wildlife in their natural habitat. And this remains true for wildlife in Alaska’s vast wilderness.
But don’t lose hope, as there are many tips and tricks you can follow to give you a better chance at spotting wildlife on your Alaska bucket-list! Along with some advice on how to interact with Alaska’s wildlife in order to keep you and the animals safe.
DISLCLAIMER: I am sharing this information with you as a wildlife lover and conservationist. I want nothing more than for everyone to experience the magic and beauty of seeing animals in their natural habitat. However, with this in mind, please always remember to be respectful of all living creatures. They are not here for our entertainment. Remember to keep your distance, and respect their home. Wildlife should be admired, but never disturbed. Please use this information wisely.
Bears
When thinking of wildlife in Alaska, most people immediately think of bears. Unfortunatley, they’re not always as present as the media may make it seem. Spotting a bear on an average day in Alaska is complete luck if you ask me. During the entire 10 months that I have lived in Alaska, I only got to see a bear during the last month I was there. However, despite my intense desire to see a bear in real life (since this Massachusetts girl had never seen one before), this was not enough to make a bear magically appear in front of me.
Fortunately for you, there are lots of ways you can go about increasing your chance of seeing a bear, from specific locations and knowing the bears behaviors, to going on guided excursions.
Here are a few tips to follow if you are itching to see a bear during your time in Alaska.
Tips for Finding Bears:
Go where the food is!
There is no better way to find wildlife in Alaska than to go where they feast. For brown bears you will find them along rivers during the salmon runs. And black bears will likely be spotted in mountainous terrain where there are a bounty of plants and berries for them to feast on. If you spend some time in nature in these areas, you are likely to spot a bear eventually.
Go where the bears are!
While this might seem obvious, it’s not as simple as it seems. There are known populations of bears throughout Alaska, but most of them are not easily accessible. Places like Denali National Park, Katmai National Park, Kodiak Island, and Lake Clark are all areas where there are large populations of bears present. I suggest you do your research before you travel to determine if traveling to one of these more remote locations is worthwhile for you!
Go on a guided tour!
If you want to see bears during your time in Alaska, but putting the all of the time and energy into it isn’t your style, then I suggest checking out the many bear viewing tours offered throughout the state. Bear Viewing is a very popular tourist activity, and by choosing to go on a tour rather than pursue it yourself, there will be an expert guiding you through the entire experience and doing the hard work for you! A majority of bear viewing tours operate out of Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, allowing for quick access via plane to remote bear habitats.
How to interact with bears in the wild
While they look cuddly, it is good practice to assume that all wildlife in Alaska is dangerous. It is good practice to always remain at least 100 meters away from wild bears. If you spot them first, do not approach them, but rather continue to admire them from afar.
In order to avoid a close encounter with a bear, I suggest you make noise while out on trails, whether that be talking, playing music, or using a bear bell. And if you are going out in search of bears, always cary bear spray with you in case of emergencies.
However, I know better than anyone that bears often mind their own business, resulting in y a close encounter with a bear. In the chance that you end up in a situation with a bear, it is important you know the difference between a black bear and a brown bear. Here is what you should do for each of the bear species:
Black Bears:
If you have a close encounter with a black bear, try to stay calm and slowly back away from the animal. Black bears are the more docile of the bear species in Alaska, so usually they run off fairly quickly. If this doesn’t happen, make yourself BIG and LOUD. Stand tall and yell to scare the bear off. If all else fails, have your bear spray on hand for emergency use.
Brown Bears:
Brown bears are the ones to be most cautious of. They are big and can easily cause harm to you. Once again, remain calm and try to slowly back away from the bear. However, do not try to scare the bear. Don’t yell or scream, and avoid direct eye contact. And don’t run. you will lose. this is the part where you prepare your bear spray to be used should the bear begin to charge. And if all else fails and the bear comes in contact with you, drop to the ground and curl up in a ball like an armadillo. Remain in this position and remain quiet until the attack is over, and be sure the bear is out of the area before getting up or seeking help.
I know all this information likely makes bears seem intimidating and scary. However, if you respect the animal’s space and observe their behaviors, then you shouldn’t run into any issues.
Moose
I hate to say it, but there are few tricks for trying to spot moose. But don’t loose hope, because these are also one of the easiest animals to spot during your visit to Alaska. A lot of moose have become accustomed to being around humans, so there is no limit as to where they could be spotted. Often times I have spotted a family of moose in the middle of downtown Homer! They do their own thing and are fairly unbothered by the outside world.
However, there are still a few tips you can keep in mind when looking for moose, especially on those long roadtrips!
Tips for Finding Moose:
Keep an eye on marshy areas!
Moose love to be around water, where they feast on grasses and various other plants. So if you are passing by a creek, keep an eye out for moose, as this is a good place to spot them.
Time of day
Moose tend to be the most active during dawn and dusk. While this can be a difficult time to realistically look for wildlife during the peak of summer, these times of day are great opportunities to look for moose during other months of the year.
So if you are on a roadtrip through Alaska, stay alert during dawn and dusk, and anytime you pass a marshy area. You just might spot quite a few moose on your journey!
How to interact with wild moose:
To those unfamiliar with moose, they often underestimate how dangerous these creatures can be. They are very territorial, especially during rutting season or if they have calves. And they will charge at you.
The best thing you can do is remain a safe distance away from the individuals, which means 25 meters at minimum. And do not ever get in between a cow and her calf, this is bad news for you.
If you notice the moose seems agitated, back away to give it more space. And if for any reason the moose seems like it will start to come at you, run. Unlike bears, running is your best defense against moose. Often times they will bluff charge at you in order to scare you off, and if they do actually chase you, they incredibly unlikely to continue chasing you very far.
Marine Mammals
If you ask me, marine mammals are the best part of Alaska. There is so much diversity, and being the summer home for a lot of species, there is so much happening in the ocean wherever you look.
Whales
Being the first place I had ever seen whales in the wild, Alaska cetaceans now have my heart. With a sea full of playful humpback whales, high-energy porpoises, stunning orca whales, and many more cetaceans species, there are endless possibilities of what you may see should you venture out into the ocean.
Many people visit Alaska having never seen a whale in their life. And if they have seen a whale in the wild, they are typically thrilled at the thought of seeing orcas in their natural habitat. Alaska is a beautiful place to check whale watching off your bucket list. Should you go during the peak whale season (June-August), it is incredibly likely you will have an amazing trip full of action.
The only true way to experience the beauty of these animals is to go on a whale watching tour during your time in Alaska. A majority of the whale activity is in the southern parts of Alaska, from Juneau up to Anchorage. So wherever your travels take you, you should be able to find an incredible place to go whale watching.
While going out on a boat tour is a the best way to experience Alaska’s marine life (and one of the must-do activities in the state), there is one way you can experience whale watching from land. Outside of Anchorage, the Turnagain Arm runs alongside the Cook Inlet, which is home to the only population of Cook Inlet beluga whales. There are lots of overlook points along the highway to admire the view and spend some time looking for the beloved beluga whales! While the population is fairly small, the best piece of advice is to time your visits with the tides. The highest number of whale spotings will occur during high tide.
Top Towns for Whale Watching:
- Kenai Fjords National Park – Seward
- Prince William Sound – Whittier
- Kachemak Bay – Homer
- The Inside Passage – Juneau & other towns in the southeast region
- Turnagain Arm – Anchorage
Seals & Sea Lions
When talking about marine mammals, we can’t forget the adorable seals and sea lions that call Alaska their home. With many species of seals, and the Stellar sea lion being permanent residents of Alaska, you have a good chance of seeing these animals without trying very hard. In a majority of coastal fishing towns, there’s usually a few that hang out in the harbor and are known by the townies. If you want to experience these animals in more of their natural habitat, I definitely recommend going out on a tour to see glaciers and wildlife in Alaska. You will be able to see colonies of sea lions, and mass numbers of seals on icebergs near glaciers. It’s an incredible sight to see, and the animals are so lively.
Marine Mammal Safety
In terms of safety, marine mammals are special in terms of how we need to interact with them. All marine mammals are actually protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This legislation essentially protects all marine mammals from any form of harassment from humans, and if you should harass them, you could face legal repercussions.
If you are on a whale watching or wildlife tour in Alaska (or anywhere, actually), this should not be of any concern to you, as the company is obligated to follow these laws. However, when looking for a company to go on a tour with, research their philosophies on respecting wildlife to see if they align with respectful wildlife viewing practices. Additionally, look for companies that are Whale SENSE certified. It is a simple action that helps promote responsible wildlife viewing and ensures the support of companies that follow wildlife legislation.
If you encounter wildlife in Alaska on your own adventures, either on shore or on the ocean, remain a safe distance from the animal and do not disturb or harass them in any manner.
