THE WILDLIFE

Alaska is home to one of the most diverse populations of wildlife in the country. While you’re cruising the waters and during your time in the port towns, you’ll have the opportunity to see many of these animals in their natural environment. The water is full of life and not just whales; there are otters, seals, sea lions, and walruses. Seals are most commonly spotted, and six species of seals live in Alaska. There are also dolphins and harbor porpoises that playfully swim next to the boats. Of course, you can’t forget the famous Alaska salmon that are common throughout the state. Late July to mid-September is a good time to see thousands of salmon in coastal streams.

Land animals abound in Alaska and bears are a big attraction. Both brown and black bears live in Alaska. Some of the larger brown bears live along the coast where they can feed on salmon and in June and July you can find them fishing along rivers. In late summer and early fall, bears can be found searching the tundra for berries. Black bears live mostly in the forested areas of the state including Seward Peninsula as well as the Kodiak and Admiralty Islands.

Moose are huge animals with large racks of antlers. They are impressive creatures to behold, and if your cruise stops at the Kenai Peninsula, be on the lookout for them. Caribou are also abundant in Alaska but tend to stay in Alaska’s interior.

Some of the smaller ships travel through Tracy Arm, where you can see puffins and mountain goats. These goats have long hair and black horns. They’re fairly passive, and in the summer they tend to graze on grass and herbs in alpine meadows.

Much of Alaska’s wildlife is made up of birds. There are around 437 species of birds in the state. Alaska is one of the few places you can see a bald eagle. Its tell-tale white head and tail are often seen in Prince William Sound.