Bear Viewing in Alaska

After 30 years we will no longer be offering Pack Creek as part of our Juneau to Juneau Alaska cruise schedule in July and August. While Pack Creek remains a cherished memory both Ben and I agree this will open up our schedule to allow for both better whale watching opportunities as well as better bear viewing opportunities.

Since 1981 we have offered Bear Viewing Tours as part of our Alaska Cruises aboard the classic yacht Discovery. As one of southeast Alaska's first Bear Viewing Guides and eco tour operators we offer Guided Alaska Bear Viewing Trips to Anan Creek Bear Observatory during our summer cruising schedule. As part of your cruise aboard the yacht Discovery you will have the opportunity to see bears in their natural habitat.

THE BLACK BEAR:

Alaska Bear Viewing at : Anan Creek Bear Observatory located in the Bradfield Canal of Southeast Alaska is home to both resident Grizzlies ( Ursus arctos) and Black Bears ( Ursus americanus ) it is one the few areas in North America where it is possible to see these animals together on the same stream, however short lived. Although this is primarily a Black Bear stream in the Spring and Fall it is fairly common to see both species together. The Black bear will give way to his cousin the Brown bear without hesitation. During the main salmon spawning run the Brown Bears move up stream and yield the lower portion of the stream to some 30 resident black bears. Other excellent viewing areas for Black bears include Prince of Wales Island and other mainland coastal streams in S.E. Alaska.. Best viewing May - September.

THE BROWN BEAR:

Brown, grizzlies and Kodiaks were once thought to be separate sub-species however it is generally agreed now that they are the same species. The Brown bear so named because he lives within 50 miles of the sea and usually supplements his diet with salmon is much larger than the inland grizzly. The Brown Bear is the largest land carnivore on earth. Although there is some dispute over his cousin the Polar Bear which spends the bulk of his life on ice flows.

Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof Islands in Southeast Alaska are home to large populations of the Brown Bear. Admiralty Island is said to have the densest population on earth at almost one bear per square mile.

Alaska Bear Viewing at : Pack Creek Bear Observatory ( Stan Price Wildlife Sanctuary ) located on Admiralty Island is the other designated bear observatory in Southeast Alaska. The former residence of the late Stan Price. In 1945 Mr. Price found an orphan female cub on the beach and brought it to home to his cabin. He ended up raising the bear and in turn had a reported 82 ( until his death 1989 ) bears born at Pack Creek.

Unfortunately as he predicted the bears at Pack Creek have all but disappeared. During the last several seasons at Pack Creek both Ben and I noted the decline in the numbers of bears using the Pack Creek drainage. On more than one occasion the entire day without a single Bear Sighting. In the two days it has normally taken out of our schedule to do Pack Creek going up Seymour Canal and the day at Pack Creek the extra days will allow for better bear viewing opportunities elsewhere as well as free up our schedule for better whale watching as well . I think when Pest died a few years ago, the last cub Stan raised, that Pack Creek lost its once proud glory. As Stan said " with no one to get acquainted and no one to befriend them, one place is a good as another."

Other Brown Bear viewing areas: Almost all remote wilderness bays with salmon streams on Admiralty ( densest population of Brown Bears in the world ), Baranof and Chichagof  Islands ( Northern Chichagof may even have a denser population of large Brown Bears than Admiralty ) all provide great Bear Viewing opportunities.

I've included a few pictures of these magnificent animals. Please click on the images to enlarge them.

Brown Bear at Anan Creek

Kids At play Pack Creek

"Pest" at Pack Creek

Cubs & Mom at Anan Creek

Brown Bear viewing on Admiralty Island

Black Bear

Bear Fishing at Anan Creek

Brown Bear Sow and Cubs

Black Bear

Brown Bear and Cubs

Anan Creek Black Bear

Cub up a Tree