NPS/Kent Miller

Brown Bear in Denali NP&P

Alaska has over 430 species of birds, the largest population of bald eagles in the nation, and the largest carnivorous land mammal in the world (the brown bear; the polar bear is considered a marine mammal). From pygmy shrews that weigh less than a penny to gray whales that weigh anywhere from 16 to 45 tons, Alaska is the Last Frontier for animals as well as people. Species endangered elsewhere are still abundant in Alaska.

Below is information about a few of the favorite animals that visitors to Alaska love to see:

NPS/Ellen Shannon

Bald Eagles were removed from the list of threatened and endangered species in 2007.

Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are easily recognized in their adult years by the white feathers on their head. These feathers do not turn white however until the eagle is four or five years old. Adult Bald Eagles can reach up to 14 pounds in size and have a wingspan of 7 ¹/₂ feet. The eagles usually nest in large trees near the coastline or near large rivers and their diet primarily consists of fish, small mammals, waterfowl, crabs, urchins, and carrion. During the winter, large congregations of Bald Eagles, numbering in the thousands can be found in places like the Chilkat Valley near Haines, Alaska where spawned out salmon provide plentiful food.
Learn more about Eagles (.pdf 86kb)

NPS/Kent Miller

Black Bears have an excellent sense of smell.

Black Bears (Ursus americanus) can be found in most of Alaska's forests and are usually much smaller than brown bears or polar bears. Despite their name however, black bears can occur in several colors and nicknames have arisen for the different colors observed including 'cinnamon bears' (light brown) and 'glacier bears' (bluish-white). Just like brown bears, black bears are omnivores and their diet can include vegetation, berries, salmon, carrion, moose calves, and even insects. Also like brown bears, black bears generally hibernate most of the winter with some Black Bears in northern areas hibernating as long 8 months of the year.
Learn more about Black Bears (.pdf 77kb)

NPS/Kent Miller

Male coastal brown bears may weigh as much as 1500 lbs.

Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) can be found throughout much of Alaska but variations in size, diet, and behavior have lead to distinctions between the bears living in different areas. Brown bears living in the interior of the state, which do not usually have access to streams full of spawning salmon, tend to be smaller in size and are commonly called 'grizzlies'. In comparison, the 'brown' bears of the coastal regions of Alaska feed on large amounts of salmon each year and can grow much larger then the 'grizzlies' of the interior. There is also a third subcategory, Kodiak brown bears, which are classified as their own subspecies and are exclusively found on the islands surrounding and including Kodiak Island. In addition to salmon being important in many of their diets, brown bears are omnivorous and will eat a variety of berries, grasses, roots, small mammals, and the occasional large mammal such as moose and caribou. Unfortunately, these iconic creatures have a bad reputation in many minds, but human-bear conflicts are almost always easily avoided.
Learn more about Bear safety
Learn more about Brown Bears (.pdf 51kb)

NPS

Caribou can travel up to 50 miles per day

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) outnumber people in Alaska and have supported the subsistence lifestyles of native Alaskans for thousands of years. They live in lowland and alpine tundra and the northern forests of Alaska and are known for their large annual migrations. They are members of the deer family but unlike most members of the deer family, both males and females grow antlers that they shed each year. As adaptations to thrive in their arctic environment, caribou have thick hair with hollow fibers that provide excellent insulation as well as large, wide hooves that provide good flotation in deep snow.
Learn more about Caribou (.pdf 52kb)

NPS

Adult Dall Sheep in Denali National Park

Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli dalli) are masters of the mountains and you'll probably have to do some hiking to catch a glimpse of these animals. They generally inhabit high alpine meadows and ridges and spend most of the year divided into groups of males and groups of females and their young. Male sheep, or 'rams' have large curly horns that they will use to establish dominance among other males by butting horns with one another. Female sheep also have horns that are smaller and slightly curved. A sheep's age can actually be found by counting the growth rings on their horns.Some Dall sheep have grown as old as 19 years but 12 years of age is the average lifespan.
Learn more about Dall Sheep (.pdf 51kb)

Bull moose must regrow their large antlers each summer.

The Moose (Alces alces) is the largest member of the deer family with some males growing as large as 1600 pounds. They can be found throughout most of Alaska's mainland feeding on aspens and willows. Male moose or "bulls" grow large antlers each summer to be used in courtship displays. Males clash their antlers with other males for the right to mate. These antlers are then shed during the winter to be regrown all over again next year. Its common for females to give birth to twins which they will raise until the calves are about one year old. At that time the calves are chased away by the mother so that she can give birth to more calves.
Learn More about Moose (.pdf 55kb)

USFWS

Both male and female adult Muskoxen grow horns.

Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) are related to sheep and goats. They may weigh as much as 800 pounds and possess a thick long coat of fur to keep them warm in their frigid arctic environment. Similar to the behavior of male Dall Sheep, male muskoxen will charge each other in aggressive displays of dominance that culminate in a loud sounding collision of horns. Its helpful then that these animals have such thick horns and skulls to protect their brains from trauma. Muskoxen have also adapted a very successful strategy for dealing with natural predators. If confronted with a predator, the adults of the herd will form a tight knit circle with their horns facing out and the juveniles of the herd protected in the center.
Learn more about Muskox (.pdf 55kb)

NOAA

Orcas travel in groups known as 'pods'

Orca (Orcinus orca) These easily recognizable marine mammals, commonly known as 'killer whales', are actually the largest member of the dolphin family. They can grow as large as 27 feet long and weigh as much as 13,000 pounds and that characteristic dorsal fin that you may be lucky enough to spot plying the waters of Alaska's coast can reach a height of 6 feet in male Orcas. These creatures can live as long as 80 years and like to travel in groups called 'pods' and can be found in most of Alaska's marine waters. the prey of Orcas ranges from fish to sharks, to other marine mammals such as seals or porpoises.
Learn more about Orcas (.pdf 44kb)

USFWS

Polar Bear cubs will stay with their mother for over two years.

Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) are the kings of the arctic environment, roving the desolate sea ice in search of prey. Males can grow as large as 1700 pounds and 10 feet in length and they are well adapted to their arctic maritime home. In fact, due to the fact that polar bears spend much of their life on the sea ice, they are actually classified as marine mammals instead of terrestrial mammals. Their thick white fur allows them to stay warm and camouflaged while hunting prey such as ringed seals and their large webbed feet distribute their weight atop thin sections of sea ice and allow the bears to swim efficiently across open water.
Learn more about Polar Bears (.pdf 42kb)

NPS/Kent Miller

Average wolf pack size is 6 or 7 animals

Wolves (Canis lupus) live in over 85% of Alaska in a wide variety of habitats. They range in color from black to almost white. They are highly social animals that live in packs with a strong hierarchy between members. The top position of that hierarchy is filled by the alpha male and alpha female of each pack, who are often the pack's only breeding pair. One advantage the pack structure gives wolves is the ability to take down large prey that an individual wolf would have difficulty with, such as a full grown moose. Besides moose, wolves are known to feed on caribou, Dall sheep, deer, mountain goats, beaver, hares, rodents, and sometimes fish and birds.
Learn more about wolves (.pdf 46kb)

If you are an educator make sure to stop by our Statewide Education Kits page for information on how to check out kits for use with your students! Available kits include the: Wolf Kit, Bear Kit, Bear Safety Kit, Bird Beak Adaptations Kit, Marine Mammals Kit, Loon Kit, Track Kit, and many more.