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Wildlife

Whether it's furry, feathered or finned, Anchorage is teeming with wildlife. Moose, bears, beluga whales, eagles and salmon all call Anchorage home. Spot them running wild, or head to the Alaska Zoo and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for an up-close look at our wild residents.

Related Interests: Moose | Bear viewing | Outdoor Recreation |

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Honk if you love spring! Canada geese are among the first birds to return to Anchorage in the spring.
Honk if you love spring! Canada geese are among the first birds to return to Anchorage in the spring. ©VisitAnchorage/Roy Neese
Canada geese are among the first birds returning to Anchorage in the spring, honking their arrival on the Delaney Park Strip.
Canada geese are among the first birds returning to Anchorage in the spring, honking their arrival on the Delaney Park Strip. ©VisitAnchorage/Roy Neese
Explore the largest variety of wildlife in the state at the Alaska Zoo.
Explore the largest variety of wildlife in the state at the Alaska Zoo. ©John Gomes/Alaska Zoo
See brown bears in their natural habitat at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
See brown bears in their natural habitat at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. ©Visit Anchorage/Nicole Geils
Elk graze at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Elk graze at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. ©ACVB/Jeanette Anderson Moores
Kids love to "moose-around" at the Alaska Zoo.
Kids love to "moose-around" at the Alaska Zoo. ©Wayde Carroll
Apun the polar bear is a popular attraction at the Alaska Zoo.
Apun the polar bear is a popular attraction at the Alaska Zoo. ©Alaska Zoo/John Gomes
A brown bear cub frolicks at the Alaska Zoo.
A brown bear cub frolicks at the Alaska Zoo. ©Alaska Zoo/John Gomes
Get up close to a moose at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Get up close to a moose at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. ©Doug Lindstrand/AWCC
A tufted puffin, easily Alaska's most recognizable bird.
A tufted puffin, easily Alaska's most recognizable bird. ©Gigi Duarte/Visit Anchorage
A young moose calf enjoys a tasty treat from a neighborhood tree during summer in Anchorage.
A young moose calf enjoys a tasty treat from a neighborhood tree during summer in Anchorage. ©Visit Anchorage/Helen Thomas
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center staff gets a big hug from a baby musk ox.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center staff gets a big hug from a baby musk ox. ©ATIA/Matt Hage
King salmon weighing in at more than 50 pounds have been caught at Ship Creek, located in downtown Anchorage.
King salmon weighing in at more than 50 pounds have been caught at Ship Creek, located in downtown Anchorage. ©Visit Anchorage/Andy Sorensen
Wildlife and glaciers abound on a glacier and wildlife day cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Wildlife and glaciers abound on a glacier and wildlife day cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park. ©istock
A humpback whale breaching can be a spectacular part of a glacier and wildlife cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park or Prince William Sound.
A humpback whale breaching can be a spectacular part of a glacier and wildlife cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park or Prince William Sound. ©istock
Sea otters are often found floating around Kenai Fjords National Park, viewable by taking a glacier and wildlife day cruise.
Sea otters are often found floating around Kenai Fjords National Park, viewable by taking a glacier and wildlife day cruise. ©istock
Kids love the close up views at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Kids love the close up views at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. ©Visit Anchorage/Jeanette Anderson Moores
Young moose and their mothers are a common sight in the summer on Anchorage's vast network of trails.
Young moose and their mothers are a common sight in the summer on Anchorage's vast network of trails. ©Visit Anchorage /Jody Overstreet
The Anchorage area is home to approximately 250 black bears and 60 brown bears. Bear viewing trips can be arranged from Anchorage.
The Anchorage area is home to approximately 250 black bears and 60 brown bears. Bear viewing trips can be arranged from Anchorage. ©ATIA/Michael DeYoung
Moose are a common site around Anchorage. Watch for newborns at the end of May.
Moose are a common site around Anchorage. Watch for newborns at the end of May. ©Visit Anchorage
Puffins, because of their large colorful beaks and comical looks, are probably the most easily recognized and most popular Alaska seabirds.
Puffins, because of their large colorful beaks and comical looks, are probably the most easily recognized and most popular Alaska seabirds. ©istock
Swans at Tern Lake
Swans at Tern Lake ©Visit Anchorage / Roy Neese
Snap an unforgettable wildlife photo at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Snap an unforgettable wildlife photo at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. ©ATIA/Matt Hage
A waxwing finds a winter treat
A waxwing finds a winter treat ©Jody Overstreet/Visit Anchorage
Anchorage's animal residents are a very visible part of the population. Catch a glimpse of a bear making a dash into brush.
Anchorage's animal residents are a very visible part of the population. Catch a glimpse of a bear making a dash into brush. ©Lilly Kelly/Visit Anchorage
Dall sheep roam far above the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm.
Dall sheep roam far above the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm. ©Visit Anchorage
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Wildlife Features

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Our Wild Neighbors
Wild animals are everywhere in Anchorage. You never know what you might encounter during a hike in the mountains or a walk on paved trails.
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Guaranteed Alaska Wildlife Viewing
Visitors looking for guaranteed, authentic and up-close Alaska wildlife viewing experiences have several choices in Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska.
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Alaska Bear Viewing Trips
Journey deep into bear territory on a bear viewing tour to Kodiak Island or Katmai National Park. One-day fly-in adventures begin right in Anchorage.
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Anchorage Wildlife: Big Wild Critters
While nearly 300,000 people reside in Anchorage, the wild critter count is much higher, boasting thriving numbers of animals like fox, moose, bear, beaver, Dall sheep, eagle, a variety of salmon and...
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Glacier and Wildlife Cruises
Get up close to the 1,000-foot high face of a brilliant blue glacier and listen to the thunderous roar as a huge wall of ice crashes into the waters below. 
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Bird Watchers Flock to Anchorage
Surrounded by wilderness, Anchorage offers a world of opportunity for Alaska bird watching in an ecological setting. 
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Anchorage and Alaska Fishing Hotspots
The dream of landing a trophy fish lures people from around the globe to Anchorage, where urban angling is just a stone’s throw from downtown.
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Bear Viewing near Anchorage
Visitors looking for guaranteed and authentic bear viewing experience have some options while visiting Anchorage.
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Alaska Wildlife
Grab a pair of binoculars and go WILD in Anchorage. Anchorage wildlife viewing is a year-round attraction, with guaranteed wildlife viewing at close proximity.
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Anchorage: The Wildlife in our Midst
You aren't sure you saw it at first, that fleeting outline and a towering rack of antlers. A furry paw poking out, a fluke cutting through the water or a majestic wing soaring through the sky. ...
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Wildlife Itineraries

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