|
|
|
|
Juneau has some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing in the world. The viewing of whales, brown bear and eagles is just minutes away. A variety of wildlife tours can get you up close to black bear, Dall porpoise, sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, mountain goats and Sitka black tail deer.
Whales
From April to November, approximately 600 humpback whales inhabit the waters of the northern Inside Passage. They migrate annually to Alaska to feed on the abundant plankton and small fish which thrive in this area. During the winter months the humpbacks head to their winter homes in the waters off Hawaii and Mexico to breed and bear their young. Whale watching tours are offered in Juneau and near Glacier Bay, and daily boat tours to Tracy Arm rarely return without whale sightings.
The other type of whale common to the area is the Orca, or killer whales. These whales, though much smaller than humpbacks have been known to pursue much bigger prey. Salmon, seals and even moose and other whales have been hunted down by these wolves of the sea. While humpbacks often travel alone, or in small groups, orcas travel in large packs, known as "pods" and since they swim very fast, a single pod can occupy a very large territory.
Bears
Black and brown bear are common in the forests around Juneau. Immediately around the city, one can encounter black bear. While all wild animals should be treated with respect and caution, these small bears are not particularly dangerous- but don't expect them to sit still for a photo. The local black bears like to keep their distance from people.
To see large bears, one need travel only a few miles from Juneau by air to Admiralty Island National Monument and the Kootznoowoo Wilderness Area (Kootznoowoo is a Tlingit word meaning "Fortress of the Bears"). This national treasure is home to the largest concentration of brown bear in North America -some 1,600 brown bear, one for every square mile of the island. There is a bear sanctuary and viewing areas at Pack Creek where visitors are able to see brown bear feeding on salmon to fatten up for hibernation.
Entry to Pack Creek is restricted by permit from June 1 to September 10. Admiralty Island can be accessed only by kayak, boat or float plane. Prime viewing of the bears follows the salmon run which varies from year to year, but traditionally includes most of July and August. A limited number of permits per day are issued to enter the Pack Creek area. Call USFS 907-586-8751 for information.
Eagles
Southeast Alaska is home to approximately 20,000 bald eagles. This is a staggering figure when you consider that the human population of this same area is just 70,000. The abundance of these birds in Alaska was one of the reasons that the Secretary of Interior recently removed bald eagles from the Endangered Species list.
Viewing opportunities for eagles abound in Juneau. They are often seen perched at the tops of trees near the shoreline looking for prey in the water, or flying overhead between perches. Visitors often don-t realize exactly how many eagles they are seeing because many of the young eagles aren't immediately recognizable.
Young, or immature, bald eagles are a mottled brown. The familiar coloration - a black body, yellow beak and talons, and a white head - does not appear until the birds are about 5 years old. They can live 20 years or more.
Bald eagles often congregate at food sources such as salmon spawning streams or herring spawning areas along the coast. When spawning salmon return to the Gastineau Salmon Hatchery each summer, eagles concentrate at Juneau's Gastineau Channel.
Back To Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
