When thinking of Alaska, what comes to mind? A snow capped mountain with a bald eagle soaring by, salmon leaping out of a waterfall and, of course, a bear eating a fish on the shore. Bears are quintessentially Alaskan and visitors spend a lot of time and energy searching for a glimpse of a real one. Bears have the added difficulty of actually being dangerous, so generally visitors are not able to get very close to the real thing.
You can scan the roadsides at Denali park and hike quietly in the woods all day and still not see a bear in the wild. But if seeing a bear is on your Alaska bucket list, then the Anan Wildlife Observatory in Wrangell is the place for you. It offers an exceptional Alaskan wildlife viewing experience where brown and black bears can be seen in the summer in a relatively comfortable and safe way for the visitors and animals alike.
The Anan Wildlife Observatory is 30 miles southeast of Wrangell in Southeast Alaska. Access to Wrangell is by air or sea and the Alaska Marine Highway ferry makes a stop here.
Anan Creek is icy, clear and fresh and has the largest run of pink salmon in Southeast Alaska. The salmon attract all kinds of wildlife to feed on the bounty including bald eagles, sea lions, and a sleuth of black and brown bears. Anan Creek is an ancient Tlingit native fishing site.
Pink salmon are also called humpback salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and have a two year growing cycle after which they swim upstream to spawn at the point of their origin. An average full grown "humpy", as they are affectionately referred to, is about 4.5 pounds.
Late June to late August is the time to visit, when the fish run and the bears appear to feast. The animals all congregate to fatten up for winter hibernation.
Travel by boat or float plane to meet the guides at the trail head and they will lead you to the viewing area. A boardwalk has been constructed for visitors, but it does have hazards from slippery footing to special guest stars.
You must obtain a permit to visit from the Wrangell Ranger District and use an approved guiding company. Understandably, hiking around wild bears while they are eating takes the knowledge of a skilled wildlife professional to do safely. Permits are limited to protect the wildlife and ensure optimal bear viewing for everyone, year after year.
The observation hut is somewhat hidden so the bears can be viewed without knowing they are being watched. Visitors are relatively safe and comfortable from their designated observatory.
After gorging himself on fish, the bear naps in a tree to get up the strength to eat some more! Feasting for hibernation sure is hard work. Large bears eat an average of 30 salmon a day in peak fish season.
Enjoy the incredible opportunity to view these powerful creatures in the wild at the Anan Bear Observatory. This amazing location will fulfill your Alaska wildlife dreams in just one day trip.
