Wildlife Viewing Alaska Travel
Adventure Bus Trip
(Printer version Wildlife Viewing
Alaska Travel Adventure Bus Trip)
Mention our Web Specials!
Go beyond the
standard park tour and venture to Kantishna, 
deep inside
Denali National Park for premier Alaska wildlife viewing. This full-day narrated
bus trip explores the entire 95-mile restricted access Denali Park Road,
offering you the most opportunities to view the abundance of Alaska wildlife the
state has to offer. At the end of the road you'll have a great buffet lunch at
our exclusive lodge and enjoy the remoteness and beauty of Kantishna. The return
trip gives you more opportunities for wildlife sightings and photography.
Our experienced Guide/Driver helps you search for Alaska wildlife including
grizzly bears, black bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and other Alaska wildlife
while pointing out the biology and geology of the region. Stop for Alaska
wildlife viewing and photo opportunities as you trek back to the Park's
entrance.
Some of the Alaska wildlife you may see include:
Bears
Black bears are the most abundant and widely distributed of the three species of
North American bears. In Alaska, black bears occur over
most of the forested areas of the state.
In Southeast Alaska, black bears occupy 
most islands with the
exceptions of Admiralty, Baranof, Chichagof, and Kruzof.
Black bears are the smallest of the North American bears.
Three colors are common in Alaska. Black is the most often encountered color,
but brown or cinnamon colored bears are often seen in south central Alaska and
the southeastern mainland.
Grizzly bears occur throughout Alaska except on the islands
south of
Frederick Sound in southeastern Alaska, the islands west of Unimak in the
Aleutian Chain, and the islands of the Bering Sea. Grizzly bears are very much a
part of the Alaska scene and are a favorite topic with most hunters, hikers,
photographers, and fishers.
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."
Alaska grizzly 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.
Caribou
Caribou live in the arctic tundra, mountain tundra, and northern forests of
Alaska. The world population
is about 5 million. In Europe, caribou are called
reindeer, but in Alaska and Canada only the domestic forms are called reindeer.
Caribou have large, concave hoofs that spread widely to support the animal in
snow and soft tundra. The feet also function as paddles when caribou swim.
Caribou are the only member of the deer family in which both sexes grow antlers.
Antlers of adult bulls are large and massive; those of adult cows are much
shorter and are usually more slender and irregular.
Dall Sheep
Dall Sheep inhabit the mountain ranges of Alaska. They use the ridges, meadows,
and steep slopes for feeding and resting. When danger approaches they flee to
the rocks and crags to elude pursuers. They are generally high country animals.
Male Dall sheep are called rams. They are distinguished by massive
curling horns. The females, called
ewes, have shorter, more slender, slightly curved horns. Rams resemble ewes
until they are about 3 years old. After that, continued horn growth makes them
easily recognizable. Horns grow steadily during spring, summer, and early fall.
In late fall or winter horn growth slows and eventually ceases.
This start-and-stop growth of horns results in a pattern of rings called annuli,
which are spaced along the length of the horn. Age can be accurately determined
by counting the annuli. As rams mature, their horns form a circle when seen from
the side. Rams reach a full circle or "curl" in seven to eight years.
Moose
The Moose is the world's largest member of the deer family and the Alaska race
is the largest of all 
the moose. They are
most abundant in recently burned areas that contain willow and birch shrubs, on
timberline plateaus, and along the major rivers of South central and Interior
Alaska.
Moose are long-legged and heavy bodied with a drooping nose, a "bell" or dewlap
under the chin, and a small tail. Their color ranges from golden brown to almost
black, depending upon the season and the age of the animal. Only the bulls have
antlers.
The largest moose antlers in North America come from Alaska. In the wild, moose
rarely live more than 16 years. Antlers are shed as early as November, but
mostly in December and January.
Mountain Goat
The Mountain Goat is the single North American representative 
of a widespread group of goat-like
ungulates. All are characterized by relatively short horns and a fondness for
living in rugged terrain. In Alaska, mountain goats occur throughout the
southeastern Panhandle and continue north and west along the coastal mountains
to Cook Inlet. In Southcentral Alaska they are generally confined to the Chugach
and Wrangell mountains, although their range extends into the Talkeetna
Mountains nearly to Denali National Park.
Mountain goats are one of the two species of all white, hoofed, large mammals
found in Alaska. They are often confused with young and female Dall sheep, but
are easily distinguished by their longer hair, deeper chest, and black horns.
Eagles
The Bald Eagle of Alaska's waterways and the soaring Golden Eagle of the
Interior are two of this state's most magnificent birds of prey. Long valued for
their 
aesthetic beauty, eagles
are now recognized for their biological importance as scavengers and predators
in the natural environment. These raptors deserve our protection and respect.
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 Bald Eagle is Alaska's largest resident bird of prey. Bald Eagles are more
abundant in Alaska than anywhere else in the United States. The Alaska
population has been estimated to include 30,000 birds at the time of fledging.
Bald Eagles often use and rebuild the same nest each year. Nest trees are
usually close to water, afford a clear view of the surrounding area, and often
provide sparse cover above the nest.
Eagles in Southcentral Alaska nest in old cottonwood trees near water. They do
not attain adult plumage and breed until 4 or 5 years of age.
June 4 - September 10, 2009
Cost: $169.00 per person
Mention our
Web Specials!
More Denali National Park tours and activities:
Denali Alaska Flightseeing Adventure
Denali National Park Heli-hiking & Heli-tours
Iditarod Race Dog Kennel Tour
Alaska Northern Lights Theatre Show
Denali Alaska Whitewater Rafting
Denali Wilderness Safari Tour
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tour or
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