Spring, fall, winter or summer, there is always wildlife to see in Alaska. The key lies in knowing how seasonal activities like breeding, migration, and hibernation affect the behavior of wildlife.
Spring
(March-May) provides some of the best wildlife viewing chances before vegetation and trees foliage outside. Ptarmigan relocate to central Alaska river valleys in March.
Millions of shorebirds and waterfowl return to Copper River Delta, Stikine River Flats, and other wetlands in April. As spring progresses, the migration north deepens. Bears appear from their shelters. Caribou move towards their calving regions.
Fresh green vegetation attracts mountain goats, Dall sheep, and black bears into areas where they are easily observed. In May migratory songbirds start to arrive, and seabirds begin to assemble at southcentral colonies. Spring is also the best time to see bowhead whales, seals, walrus, and other animals as the ice pack recede along Alaska.
Millions of shorebirds and waterfowl return to Copper River Delta, Stikine River Flats, and other wetlands in April. As spring progresses, the migration north deepens. Bears appear from their shelters. Caribou move towards their calving regions.
Fresh green vegetation attracts mountain goats, Dall sheep, and black bears into areas where they are easily observed. In May migratory songbirds start to arrive, and seabirds begin to assemble at southcentral colonies. Spring is also the best time to see bowhead whales, seals, walrus, and other animals as the ice pack recede along Alaska.
Summer
In summer (June--August), bears and other wildlife focus on rivers where salmon are often spawning from July. Moose cows with tall thickets, muskegs, calves frequent roadsides, and burns.
June is the month to spot birds like Asian accidentals in western Alaska. Deer fawns are born. Fur seal pups are born on Steller sea lions, and the Pribilof Islands carry their young in coastal rookeries from July through November.
July is the great month to see communities from Southeast to Northwest Alaska. In July, Little Diomede, walruses haul out on Round and King Islands. Muskoxen start their rut.
Waterfowl focus on lagoons and lakes to molt their wing feathers and shorebirds start gathering in preparing for moving south. In western and northern Alaska spectacular concentrations of waterbirds occur.
June is the month to spot birds like Asian accidentals in western Alaska. Deer fawns are born. Fur seal pups are born on Steller sea lions, and the Pribilof Islands carry their young in coastal rookeries from July through November.
July is the great month to see communities from Southeast to Northwest Alaska. In July, Little Diomede, walruses haul out on Round and King Islands. Muskoxen start their rut.
Waterfowl focus on lagoons and lakes to molt their wing feathers and shorebirds start gathering in preparing for moving south. In western and northern Alaska spectacular concentrations of waterbirds occur.
Autumn
During the autumn season (September--October), all caribou, moose, goats, and muskoxen (or musk ox) are mating, often visiting open areas. Bears visit numerous salmon streams and berry patches, and geese, shorebirds, cranes, and raptors move through several locations in large numbers.
Bowhead, gray, and beluga whales migrate along the west coast. In September, caribou and moose start rutting and offensive antlered males spar.
In October, ivory gulls seem near emperor geese, Point Barrow, and brant, and Steller's assemble at Izembek Lagoon. Ptarmigan flock in subalpine regions. Ptarmigan fox, hares, and lemmings turn white. Caribou move to their winter ranges.
Bowhead, gray, and beluga whales migrate along the west coast. In September, caribou and moose start rutting and offensive antlered males spar.
In October, ivory gulls seem near emperor geese, Point Barrow, and brant, and Steller's assemble at Izembek Lagoon. Ptarmigan flock in subalpine regions. Ptarmigan fox, hares, and lemmings turn white. Caribou move to their winter ranges.
Winter
In the Winter (November--February), motion is less hidden by plants, so animals are easier to see. In November, the largest bald eagle concentration on the planet could be seen along the Chilkat River near Haines. Mountain goats, Dall sheep, deer, and are in a rut in late autumn, but as the snow intensifies, goats move to old-growth woods, Dall sheep to windblown hills, and deer to shores.
Tracks of wolves, mink, lynx, river otter, marten, and the fox can easily be seen in the snow. Resident birds such as woodpeckers, jays, chickadees, and redpolls, and grosbeaks frequent birdfeeders.
A remarkable number of waterbirds focus in bays throughout the winter, and several species that happen in remote areas can be clearly observed near coastal towns. Owls start twilight courtship hooting in February.
Tracks of wolves, mink, lynx, river otter, marten, and the fox can easily be seen in the snow. Resident birds such as woodpeckers, jays, chickadees, and redpolls, and grosbeaks frequent birdfeeders.
A remarkable number of waterbirds focus in bays throughout the winter, and several species that happen in remote areas can be clearly observed near coastal towns. Owls start twilight courtship hooting in February.
Four Places To Go
1. Eagle River Nature Center
Trails in the Eagle River Nature Center are currently drying out, with clear paths open in the middle at the end of Eagle River Road. The center will transition into its summertime starting May 1. Through April the center is open Friday by Sunday from 10 am. To 5 pm.
Trails at the center range from the accessible Rodak Nature Trail -- a 0.7-mile loop which includes broad, gently sloping trails, interpretive signs, and over-water viewing platforms -- around the Crow Pass Trail, a 23-mile trek from the Nature Center to Girdwood. There is also plenty of hiking options in between, including –the 6-mile the Dew Mound Trail and the 3-mile Albert Loop Trail.
The trails are a great spot to see wildlife ranging from Waterfowl like swans and ducks to fish to large mammals such as bears and moose.
Starting in May, the center will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am. To 5 pm. The trails of the center are continually free and open to access, though there is a $5 parking fee.
This weekend's attractions involve "Cryptozoology: In Search of Bigfoot," a presentation by artist and cryptic champion Rob Roy Menzies on Saturday, April 13.
On April 14, Sunday, nature writer and founder Bill Sherwonit will present "Living with Bears," a conversation about how people can coexist with bruins at 2 pm.
Trails at the center range from the accessible Rodak Nature Trail -- a 0.7-mile loop which includes broad, gently sloping trails, interpretive signs, and over-water viewing platforms -- around the Crow Pass Trail, a 23-mile trek from the Nature Center to Girdwood. There is also plenty of hiking options in between, including –the 6-mile the Dew Mound Trail and the 3-mile Albert Loop Trail.
The trails are a great spot to see wildlife ranging from Waterfowl like swans and ducks to fish to large mammals such as bears and moose.
Starting in May, the center will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am. To 5 pm. The trails of the center are continually free and open to access, though there is a $5 parking fee.
This weekend's attractions involve "Cryptozoology: In Search of Bigfoot," a presentation by artist and cryptic champion Rob Roy Menzies on Saturday, April 13.
On April 14, Sunday, nature writer and founder Bill Sherwonit will present "Living with Bears," a conversation about how people can coexist with bruins at 2 pm.
2. Alaska SeaLife Center
The Alaska SeaLife Center is situated in Seward, Alaska, about 2.5 hours south of Anchorage at Mile 0 on the Seward Highway. Visitants have a unique opportunity to join the different marine mammals, invertebrates, fish, and birds indigenous to the Resurrection Bay region of Alaska and beyond! What makes the Alaska SeaLife Center is that several of the creatures housed there are rescues!
The Alaska SeaLife Center provides a variety of excursions and Encounters to enable the super devoted visitors (or people without insane toddlers) to dive deep!
When you visit the Sea Life Center, we suggest walking the streets of the old town. Eat at Nellie's. Nellie won't disappoint!
The restaurant is family friendly and rustic. Children will have the liberty to play and run around. The menu is extensive and Alaskan. Nellie's is highly recommended to anybody visiting with Seward!
301 RAILWAY AVE, SEWARD, AK 99664
PHONE: (907) 224-6300
The Alaska SeaLife Center provides a variety of excursions and Encounters to enable the super devoted visitors (or people without insane toddlers) to dive deep!
When you visit the Sea Life Center, we suggest walking the streets of the old town. Eat at Nellie's. Nellie won't disappoint!
The restaurant is family friendly and rustic. Children will have the liberty to play and run around. The menu is extensive and Alaskan. Nellie's is highly recommended to anybody visiting with Seward!
301 RAILWAY AVE, SEWARD, AK 99664
PHONE: (907) 224-6300
3. Kenai Fjords Tour
When you visit Alaska, seeing a whale will be a bucket checklist thing for you. It is the first anything experience you can book in Alaska, and you can also make a good case for it being the best. Kenai Fjords Tours will make your wildlife dreams a reality.
The captains of the tour boats are incredible! They are funny, informative, passionate and experienced. We are not sure it is possible that anybody knows the waters and creatures of Kenai Fjords National Park better than those captains do. We think using a shitty captain could (in more ways than one) make or break this kind of Alaska wildlife viewing experience, so this is serious--those captains are excellent!
There are six different tours that Kenai Fjords offers. Two of them are The Resurrection Bay Tour and The Gray Whale Watch Tour.
The Resurrection Bay Tour starts from May 18-September 7, is approximately 4.5 hours in length and carries a stop at Fox Island for a best rib and salmon food.
The Gray Whale Watch Tour happens during the gray whale migration to Alaska (March 23-May 17), is around 4 hours in length and includes a new chicken wrap lunch.
LATITUDE 60.117481″N AND LONGITUDE -149.440069″W.
1304 W. FOURTH AVENUE,
SEWARD, AK 99664
PHONE: 907.224.8068
The captains of the tour boats are incredible! They are funny, informative, passionate and experienced. We are not sure it is possible that anybody knows the waters and creatures of Kenai Fjords National Park better than those captains do. We think using a shitty captain could (in more ways than one) make or break this kind of Alaska wildlife viewing experience, so this is serious--those captains are excellent!
There are six different tours that Kenai Fjords offers. Two of them are The Resurrection Bay Tour and The Gray Whale Watch Tour.
The Resurrection Bay Tour starts from May 18-September 7, is approximately 4.5 hours in length and carries a stop at Fox Island for a best rib and salmon food.
The Gray Whale Watch Tour happens during the gray whale migration to Alaska (March 23-May 17), is around 4 hours in length and includes a new chicken wrap lunch.
LATITUDE 60.117481″N AND LONGITUDE -149.440069″W.
1304 W. FOURTH AVENUE,
SEWARD, AK 99664
PHONE: 907.224.8068
4. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
The Alaska Wildlife Center is around an hour south of Anchorage just through Girdwood. The drive onward Turnagain Arm is one of our preferences. You get amazing views of Cook Inlet and the Chugach Range from the scenic Seward Highway!
You can locate the feeding program here but can change so be sure you check the board at the gate when you reach. Seeing at least one wildlife feeding is a must while going to the conservation center!
The bears are living the life! Three bears are living in the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with 18 acres all to themselves. Their foods are served at promptly 4:30 pm daily and the workers said they get irritated with any deviation. The bears were so lively and fun to watch!
Speaking of which, volunteers, interns and the employees are full of information regarding Alaskan animals and so excited to share.
They've eagles, bison, foxes, elk, moose, caribou, black bears, it was marvelous! Some of these creatures are even planning to be reintegrated into the desert. Pretty amazing stuff!!
MILE 79 SEWARD HIGHWAY
PORTAGE, ALASKA 99587
PHONE: 907-783-2025
So there they are, the best four best Alaska Wildlife viewing experiences for those who are expecting to get a great flavor for all that Alaska has to offer.
You can locate the feeding program here but can change so be sure you check the board at the gate when you reach. Seeing at least one wildlife feeding is a must while going to the conservation center!
The bears are living the life! Three bears are living in the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with 18 acres all to themselves. Their foods are served at promptly 4:30 pm daily and the workers said they get irritated with any deviation. The bears were so lively and fun to watch!
Speaking of which, volunteers, interns and the employees are full of information regarding Alaskan animals and so excited to share.
They've eagles, bison, foxes, elk, moose, caribou, black bears, it was marvelous! Some of these creatures are even planning to be reintegrated into the desert. Pretty amazing stuff!!
MILE 79 SEWARD HIGHWAY
PORTAGE, ALASKA 99587
PHONE: 907-783-2025
So there they are, the best four best Alaska Wildlife viewing experiences for those who are expecting to get a great flavor for all that Alaska has to offer.
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