Wrangell
Wildlife
Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory is one of Alaska’s prime bear-watching spots. Through July and August, black and brown bears come to Anan Creek (boasting the largest pink salmon run in Southeast Alaska) to feast on its bounty to fatten up for the coming winter hibernation. A half-mile trail leads to the observation deck, which was developed by the U.S. Forest Service and overlooks cascading falls allowing visitors to watch the bears up close as they catch salmon. Guides from town transport tourists to and from the site and and assist with permitting requirements.
For the bird lover, the Stikine River delta is a haven to migrating birds in the spring and fall, including tundra (Whistling) swans, Canada geese, sandhill cranes, mergansers, waterfowl and more than 200,000 shorebirds. In late April, 8,000 to 10,000 snow geese stop on their migration north and, during the same time period, the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world occurs.
