“To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.”
Chances are, if you are planning a trip to Alaska, you probably want to see some wildlife while you're there. Alaska provides important habitat for fish and wildlife and you can find bears, mose, wolves, otters, caribous, beavers, salmon and many more. Many travelers hope for a spectacular wildlife encounter.
Bears and Co
Alaska is home to black bears as well as grizzly bears. You have fairly good chances of spotting bears all over the state, but they are especially good along the Gulf of Alaska, where the bears hunt for salmon. There is a sub-species of the grizzly bear called Kodiak bears, who are only found on the Kodiak archipelago. Up North, trvelers might even be lucky enough to spot spolar bears! Always observe them from a distance, never leave food around and if you are hiking remotely, bring a bear bell and bear spray.
Moose
Other than very far North, moose can be found throughout the state. With up to 725 kg (1,600 lbs) they can be quite impressive in size. THe moose refuge on the Kenai Peninsula is a great adress to observe these animals, but moose are often also spotted along highways, railways or close to city limits. Be mindful and keeo your distance, too, as they can run quite fast up to 55km (35 miles) per hour and their weight and antlers can even make a fair damage to yoru car.
Whales
Whales are nother traveler favorite. The Gulf of Alaska, Glacier Bay, Prince William Sound, Kodiak Island and the Inside Passage are great spots for spotting humpback whales in the summer. Orcas are also quite commonly spotted particularly in large groups in Southeast Alaska, while smaller belugas can be found in Cook INlet or near Anchorage. If you are planning to go up North, you might even be able to spot bowhead whales in the Artcic waters. Whales are typically active during May to September, and your best chances for spotting are between June and August.
Other Marine Animals
Whale watching is surely a highlight of most people's maritime adventure. There are, however, many more animals to spot ß such as sea otters, sea lions and even walrus! The latter can mostly be found along the Bering and Chucki coasts. Walrus can weight up to 1800kg (4000 lbs) and their tusks are very impressive. And don't forget about fish, especially salmon and jellly fish!
Birds
I am, admittely, not a huge bird bum, but Alaska is a great destination for birds! Many birds nest, breed, migrate and inhabit Alaska, such as song birds, owls, swans, puffins and loons. You might even ve lucky enough to spot a bald eagle or golden eagle - especially in and around Denali National Park. The state bird is actually a prarmigan, which changes its plumage from white in the winter to brown in the summer.
My wildlife experience in Alaska
You should definitely plan ahead to maximize your chances to see wildlife, but it also always takes a bit of luck. Fortunately enough, my friend and I were lucky to spot moose, bears and whales during our trip!
After just having stopped for a nice coffee break at the Homer Spit, my friend and I made our way back from Homer to Seward. On the drive back we spotted a couple of moose on the street! I didn't realize at first what was going on - a lot of cars started to drive very slowly and almost stopped and then we saw them right on the other side of the road. While I was really excited to see wildlife like that, I quickly started to worry about what could potentially happen.
The whole experience turned out to be fairly unspectacular though, we simply drove past them really slowly until they made their way to the other side. This experience definitely made my day, since I've always been so disappointed not having seen any mose in Canada during my trip in 2012.
We spotted several more (from further away though) in Denali National Park, along with three bears! During our Glacier Boat tour in Seward, we were also licky enough to see some orcas.
Tips
You might be lucky and check off all your exciting wildlife encounters without even booking a tour. On the other hand, you might book several tours without ever seeing any animals. You always need a bit of luck. Tours are expensive, but I can recommend picking at least one and try your luck. My personal ideal combination is a bus tour through Denali and a Glacier tour, since both are on the cheaper end and you will probably see a good amount of wildlife without spending a fortune. Another great option is the Alaska Wildlife Conservatory Center, which provides sancuary and is dedicated to preserve Alaska's wildlife through conservation, education, research and animal care.
What was your most impressive wildlife encounter?
Kate recommends: Walking Home by Lynn Schooler is filled with amazing observations of Alaska's nature. It is about the author's solitary journey about finding wholeness in the wild. Driven by exhaustion and a failing marriage, Lynn Schooler seeks solace and espace in nature during the spring of 2007, after one of the worst winters in the history of Juneau. In Walking Home Schooler creates a conversation between the human and the natural, the past and present, and investigates, with elegance and soul, what it means to be a part of the flow of human history.