Southeast
Alaska Nature & Wildlife
Nature and wildlife abound in this pristine paradise. From Orca whales to Alaska brown bears, there are few places on earth that have the abundance of wildlife found in the Southeastern Alaska wilderness.
The Adventurous crew has a vast knowledge of the nature and wildlife in this area and will share that as you cruise the Inside Passage. If you would like to learn more about some of the animals and natural wonder of Southeast Alaska, we have included some information and links that may help you get more details. Each link will open to a new window, so you can easily come back here to choose another.
Brown Bears (Grizzly) - Ursus Arctos
The term "brown bear" is commonly used to refer to the members of this species
found in coastal areas where salmon is the primary food source. Brown bears
found inland and in northern habitats are often called "grizzlies." In this
paper, brown bear is used to refer to all members of Ursus arctos.
The brown bear resembles its close relative the black bear, Ursus americanus.
The brown bear, however, is usually larger, has a more prominent shoulder hump,
less prominent ears, and longer, straighter claws. Both the prominent hump
and the long claws of the brown bear are adaptations that are related to feeding
behavior. The long claws are useful in digging for roots or excavating burrows
of small mammals. The musculature and bone structure of the hump are adaptations
for digging and for attaining bursts of speed necessary for capture of moose
or caribou for food. Color is not a reliable key in differentiating these bears
because both species have many color phases. Black bears, for example, occur
in many hues of brown, and even shades of blue and white. Brown bear colors
range from dark brown through light blond.
Bear weights vary depending on the time of year. Bears weigh the least in the
spring or early summer. They gain weight rapidly during late summer and fall
and are waddling fat just prior to denning. At this time most mature males
weigh between 500 and 900 pounds (180-410 kg) with extremely large individuals
weighing as much as 1,400 pounds (640 kg). Females weigh half to three-quarters
as much. An extremely large brown bear may have a skull 18 inches long (46
cm) and 12 inches wide (30 cm). Such a bear, when standing on its hind feet,
is about 9 feet (2.7 m) tall. Inland bears are usually smaller than coastal
bears, probably because they do not have a readily available supply of protein-rich
food, such as salmon, in their diet.
Brown bears have been known to live 34 years in the wild, though this is rare.
Usually, old males may reach 22 years. Old females may live to 26. Brown bears
have an especially good sense of smell and under the right conditions may be
able to detect odors more than a mile distant. Their hearing and eyesight are
probably equivalent to that of humans. When bears stand upright, it is not
to get ready to charge but to test the wind and to see better.
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/brnbear.php
Orca (Killer Whale) - Orcinus orca
The orca or "killer whale" can be found in all oceans of the world. Many are found in the Arctic. The orca is a striking sight, all black with a white underbelly and white around the eyes. It has many sharp teeth that can be up to 5 inches long. These help it to catch and eat its prey. The orca feed on fish, seal, sea otters, walrus and sometimes other small whales. Orcas are very strong swimmers. Aided by their large flippers, they can move through the ocean at up to 25 miles per hour. The orca is quite a social animal. It travels with 5-20 members of its extended family known as its pod. The family has specific calls and even hunts together sometimes. Calves are already eight feet long at birth! Adult males grow to 27 feet and females are usually slightly smaller. You can spot an orca in the water by looking for its large dorsal fin. These fins can be six feet tall. The Tlingit people of Alaska's seacoast create powerful images of the killer whale in their artwork.
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/orca.html
Bald Eagle - Haliaeeatus leucocephalus
General description: The Bald eagle is so named for its conspicuous white head and tail. The distinctive white adult plumage is not attained until 5 or more years of age. Immature birds lack this easily identifiable characteristic and can be confused with the Golden Eagle. The immature Bald Eagle's unfeathered tarsi (lower legs) and whitish wing linings on the forward part of the wings, can be helpful distinctions where the two species coexist. The Bald Eagle is Alaska's largest resident bird of prey (the Steller's Sea Eagle is larger) with a wing span up to 7 1/2 feet (2.3 m) long and weights of 8 to 14 pounds (3.6-6.4 kg). Like many raptors, females are larger than males.
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/bird/eagles.php
"Many thanks for another outstanding Alaskan trip. Thank you for accomodating the comings and the goings of several members of our group. I know everybody had a grat time. Everything was terrific, including our encounter with "Goldilocks", the brown bear in Whale Bay! We look forward to a return adventure next year. Best Regards - Randy