Black Bear

Wait a minute, this bear is brown so it’s a grizzly, right? No, actually black bears aren’t always black in color. They can range from black to brown to a mixture of the two colors.

Black bears primarily live in thick, brushy forested areas and primarily eat berries, vegetation and insects.

The bear in this photo is referred to as a cinnamon-colored black bear. Bear species are defined by their anatomy, not their color.

Anatomy

Shoulders: no hump

Face: straight and pointy

Ears: taller and pointy

Claws: shorter

Grizzly Bear

All grizzly bears are brown bears but not all brown bears are grizzlies. The Kodiak bear is a very large subspecies of brown bear that lives on the coast of Kodiak island. They feast on salmon during the seasonal run so they are able to attain a massive size.

Although smaller than their coastal cousins, interior grizzly bears are still quite large and will surely leave you wide-eyed if you happen to see one in the wild. They eat mostly berries, vegetation and insects but sometimes get lucky enough to take down a moose, dall sheep or caribou.

Anatomy

Shoulders: prominent hump

Face: concave or “dish” profile

Ears: shorter and rounder

Claws: longer

Moose

One of the most recognizable animals associated with the image of Alaska, moose are HUGE and they can be found everywhere. They are often seen running through the streets of Anchorage quite often!

Mountain Goat

Mountain goats spend most of their time high up in rocky mountain cliffs where they are safe from predators. The best chance of seeing them is from the air on a bush plane flight.

Red Fox

Found widely throughout the world, the red fox has the largest distribution of any land animal next to humans. They are beautiful animals and are cautiously curious. So don’t be surprised if you see one and it doesn’t immediately run away.

Wolf

Wolves are found throughout Alaska but are generally pretty shy. They form packs but also roam around solo as individuals. I have only ever seen one wolf in Wrangell-St. Elias but I’ve seen countless tracks while in the backcountry. You will know the track is a wolf’s because it will look exactly like a dog print but much larger!

Lynx

Count yourself lucky if you see a lynx. These beautiful cats are very elusive so they make an effort to not be seen. With their graceful movements, big, oversize paws and wispy, ear fur they are quite stunning to see!

Wolverine

This member of the weasel family looks like a small, squat bear. It is known for being quite clever, fearless and fierce despite its small size. They are generally very elusive and difficult to find. I have only ever seen one but have seen their tracks many times in the Alaska wilderness.

Porcupine

The first thing that you’ll notice about porcupines in Alaska is that they are huge. Visitors often mistake them for a bear cub if seen from a distance!

Marmot

This large rodent is found in cold, rocky mountain environments. They live in burrows in the ground and under rocks and make a distinctive high-pitched whistle to alert other marmots of potential danger.

Ground Squirrel

These little rodents are found all around Wrangell-St. Elias primarily in the high tundra. They live in a complex network of tunnels and burrows in the ground. Watch out for your food while hiking or camping because they are quite the little thieves. They have even been known to chew through backpacks or tents to get unattended food.

Golden Eagle

These beautiful birds are most prominent in the interior of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. They blend very well with the woodland environment so they can be easy to miss. Keep your eyes peeled for these large brown-colored birds perched high on a tree branch.

Great Horned Owl

Easily distinguished by their prominent ear tufts, the great horned owl is one of ten owl species in Alaska. This very large bird of prey feasts primarily on snowshoe hares but will also take down small mammals, hawks and fish given the opportunity.

Ptarmigan

The state bird is the willow ptarmigan but there are actually three species in Alaska: willow, rock and white-tailed. Ptarmigan are members of the grouse family and are found all throughout the high treeless terrain in Alaska. They nest in the ground and have varying colors to match the terrain, creating perfect camouflage. Their feathers even turn white in the winter!

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon, as well as coho, chum and king, migrate up the Copper and Yukon Rivers and their numerous tributaries in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park during the annual salmon run.

Wood Frog

Alaska has only two types of frogs: the colombia spotted frog and the wood frog. And there are no snakes!