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In-town wildlife

Encounters with wild animals not uncommon in Anchorage

By STEVE EDWARDS
sedwards@adn.com

Published: April 22nd, 2008
Last Modified: April 24th, 2008 at 09:26 AM

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Forty-pound kind salmon? Check.

Bald eagles in a big cottonwood tree? Yep.

Moose, black bears, brown bears? Got 'em.

When it comes to urban wildlife, no place is like Anchorage. It's home to more than 280,000 people, hundreds of moose and plenty of bears, wolves, eagles and other wild creatures.

But let's get things straight. If you want guaranteed wildlife, head to the Alaska Zoo or the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage. Otherwise, you're at nature's discretion.

"I think for people, wildlife is their No. 1 priority," said Candice McDonald, owner of Salmon Berry Tours (www.salmonberrytours.com), which organizes day or multiday tours around Anchorage. "People will say, 'We've been here three days and we haven't seen any animals.'

"It really is the No. 1 goal. We'll be doing some of the most amazing things on Earth and people will be commenting on how many four-legged animals they've seen. We actually have more luck in the city seeing animals than we do outside the city."

So, where should you look?

• Moose: Kincaid Park: This is the best place in Anchorage to look for moose. At times you might see several moose on one trip to the park. Just about anywhere is possible, but two good options are the paved Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and the Mize Loop. The Mize Loop is a short hike where moose are often seen. Point Woronzof: This is one of the more reliable places to see moose in Anchorage, as they get squeezed into a narrow corridor between the airport and Knik Arm. The Coastal Trail connects Kincaid Park and Point Woronzof. Powerline Pass: Drive to the Glen Alps parking lot in Chugach State Park, then hike about a quarter-mile to the Powerline Pass trail, turn right and then head down to the Middle Fork Loop trail. In the fall, rutting moose can often be seen in this area on both sides of the South Fork of Campbell Creek. Generally, the best time to see moose is in the evening.

• Bears: There are no regular areas to view bears in Anchorage. So if you see an urban bear, it is pretty special. They have been spotted in Kincaid Park and in Far North Bicentennial Park from time to time.

• Dall sheep: Windy Corner along the Seward Highway of Turnagain Arm is the most reliable spot to see the white sheep. It is said to be the only place in the world where Dall sheep can be seen at sea level from a road. At times, the sheep will be literally beside the road, so beware of traffic jams and quick-stopping cars.

• Salmon: Ship Creek is the local place to watch people catch fish. Also on Ship Creek is the Elmendorf State Hatchery, located at the corner of Reeve Boulevard and Post Road, which is a good place to see salmon struggling upstream. At Potter Marsh, visitors can see spawning salmon swim beneath the boardwalk that parallels the Seward Highway.

• Beluga whales: To see these white whales, head south along the Seward Highway to either Beluga Point or Bird Point. At times, they can be viewed along the Coastal Trail near Point Woronzof. The whales have become harder to spot in recent years as the population has declined.

• Beavers: There is a beaver pond a short walk from the Eagle River Nature Center (www.ernc.org, 694-2108). Or you can visit one of the many beaver lodges tucked away among Anchorage neighborhoods. Beavers can often be found at Windsong Park in Muldoon and at Reflection Lake in East Anchorage.

• Bald eagles: A bald eagle's nest is often visible along the back side of Potter Marsh from the Old Seward Highway. Nests can also sometimes be found near the airport runway about a half-mile south of Point Woronzof.

• Arctic terns: The best place to see these long-distance fliers that spend summers here and winters on the opposite end of the globe is Potter Marsh. The best time to see them is May to July.

• Snow geese and sandhill cranes: Head to the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, which extends 16 miles along the coast from Point Woronzof to Potter Marsh. In addition to Potter Marsh, access to the refuge is available at Victor Road, off Jarvi Drive and from a trail that starts at John's Park. Snow geese show up on the coastal flats in mid-April and stay for about three weeks. Sandhill cranes migrate through the area from late April through mid-May.

• General birding: Anchorage Audubon maintains the Upper Cook Inlet Bird Report, a phone recording that lists recent and rare bird sightings. Call the hot line, 338-2473. Some favorite local birding hot spots include Westchester Lagoon, the estuary of Fish Creek along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Potter Marsh. For more information, go to www. anchorageaudubon.org.

Special sections editor Steve Edwards can be reached at sedwards@adn.com or 257-4316. Visit his Alaska travel blog at www.alaska.com/alaskology.

Wildlife viewing tips

• Keep your distance. If an animal changes its behavior because of you, back off; you're too close.

• Dusk and dawn are generally the best times to view animals. They tend to be more active then.

• Never feed wild animals. It is harmful both to animals and to humans.

• Learn more about wildlife viewing, visit www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov.