|
Weather is a major factor
in the Alaska, much more so than in Western Canada, and as a
result the wildlife viewing season is a lot shorter, being
limited to the June through mid September period. Virtually
all of the wildlife species that you can see in Alaska can be
viewed throughout that period, but there can be seasonal
differences in their distribution and behaviour. The number of
tourists in Alaska also varies greatly in that period, with
the beginning and end of the season being particularly good
choices for those seeking to avoid the crowds that flock to
Alaska in the peak mid July to mid August period.
Spring (June)
Spring is the season of renewal and rebirth everywhere, but
nowhere is this more apparent than in Alaska. Humpback Whales
return from their winter exile in Hawaii, many with newborn
calves, and bears begin the urgent task of replacing the
weight lost during the long winter hibernation, some with
spring cubs taking their first steps outside the winter den in
which they were born. Like the |
|
|
|
bears, the Humpback Whales
have lost much of their body weight over the winter months, and
they set about exploiting the rich bounty of Alaska’s coastal
waters with great gusto. Onshore the Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai
National Park graze contentedly in lush sedge grass meadows, or
dig for clams at low tide
Summer (July & Early August)
The summer sees the Alaska’s incredible marine biomass reach its
pinnacle, with a seemingly endless supply of plankton underpinning
an incredible food chain that encompasses an abundance of krill,
herring, and whales, and everything in between. It is when the
incredible spectacle of Humpback Whales bubble netting and lunge
feeding on schooling herring reaches it’s peak. It is also the
most popular time to visit Denali Natiional Park. On the Katmai
Coast the Brown Bears continue their protein rich diet of sedge
grass and clams until the long awaited salmon arrive to spawn,
usually in late July or early August. In some inland locations
where red sockeye salmon spawn (e.g. Brooks River Falls) this
seasonal bounty comes early at the start of July, and is spent by
early August. On Kodiak Island where the biggest bears of all are
found, the salmon run is at its height in the late July to mid
August period.
Fall (Late August & Early September)
While the salmon runs on the Brooks River and Kodiak Island are
already over or are petering out, the coastal streams of Katmai
National Park are still choked with pink, chum, and coho salmon,
and the feeding frenzy is at its peak as the bears go into
overdrive in a headlong rush to amass the necessary fat reserves
to survive the long winter. Visitor numbers in Denali National
Park fall off steeply just as the park is at the peak of its
beauty with the alpine tundra ablaze with fall colour. It is also
the start of the moose rutting season and a great time to see
bears and wolves in the park. In September the bears also return
in great numbers to Brooks River Falls to gorge themselves on the
spawned out sockeye salmon that wash back over the falls that they
fought so hard to overcome in July. Offshore whales are still very
much in evidence, though many of the migratory seabirds have
already flown south as the long, hard winter approaches. |
