Black Bear in Anan Creek We had a great cruise in flat-calm waters from Petersburg to Wrangell. Once in Wrangell, we were able to secure reservations for the next day for a guided tour to Anan Wildlife Observatory, on a 27-foot jetboat. Our guide was a third-generation Alaskan with extensive knowledge about the area, and particularly the observatory. Anan Creek has the largest run of pink salmon returning to spawn in Alaska. It is also very unusual in that both brown and black bears come here to feed on the salmon. Interestingly, the black bears have total respect for the brown bears, who are king of the forest, and they will not go in to the creek to feed if a brown bear is present!
A permit is required to visit the area, issued by USFS. Only 60 permits are issued per day, and they are reserved in some cases many months in advance. For good reason - it is an unbelievable experience! After arriving on the beach in the bay, we received a briefing by one of the local rangers, then walked about 1/2 mile up a boardwalk trail to the viewing deck at the falls, where the bears feed. Bears are present everywhere, and our guide (rangers too) carry weapons, although they are very unlikely ever to be used.
It was truly an unbelievable experience, and I hope our photos give you some idea of how special this place is. Besides the bears, the eagles also put on quite a show, waiting and hoping to get some of the "leftovers".
We are off tomorrow to head down towards Ketchikan, expecting to be in Ketchikan in a few days.
A permit is required to visit the area, issued by USFS. Only 60 permits are issued per day, and they are reserved in some cases many months in advance. For good reason - it is an unbelievable experience! After arriving on the beach in the bay, we received a briefing by one of the local rangers, then walked about 1/2 mile up a boardwalk trail to the viewing deck at the falls, where the bears feed. Bears are present everywhere, and our guide (rangers too) carry weapons, although they are very unlikely ever to be used.
It was truly an unbelievable experience, and I hope our photos give you some idea of how special this place is. Besides the bears, the eagles also put on quite a show, waiting and hoping to get some of the "leftovers".
We are off tomorrow to head down towards Ketchikan, expecting to be in Ketchikan in a few days.
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