Nature and Wildlife

Where animals outnumber people

Wildlife sightings are an everyday experience on a visit to Ketchikan. Majestic bald eagles abound, easily spotted perched in shoreline trees, near salmon spawning streams and even atop church steeples. The variety of land and sea birds is impressive. April brings the annual Hummingbird Festival in Ketchikan and the Garnet Festival in Wrangell; both events celebrate the return of over 100 migrating species of birds.

Black bear are common, and brown (grizzly) bears are seen in mainland areas. Boaters and hikers sight them often, especially near salmon spawning streams throughout the Ketchikan area, Misty Fiords National Monument and on Prince of Wales Island. Some of the finest black and brown bear viewing locations in Alaska are at Anan Creek near Wrangell and at Salmon Creek in Hyder. Sitka black-tailed deer almost pose for cameras on beaches, and along roadsides and trails. Mountain goats are plentiful, wolf may be sighted and moose range the mainland. Sightings of Orca and humpback whales, sea lions, seals, playful sea otters and porpoise may be enjoyed on cruise excursions and from state ferries. Marten, mink and river otter can be seen along beaches, streams and lakefronts.