U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Kiska Island CAUTION - Military ordnance and explosives from World War II remain on Kiska and Little Kiska Islands. These items are extremely dangerous and should not be touched, picked-up or moved.

History Although military activities on Kiska What You Should Do and Little Kiska were concentrated in Japan invaded Kiska Island in June certain areas, ordnance and explosives If you discover something you think 1942. Japanese troops struggled for may be encountered anywhere on and may be military ordnance: a year against harsh weather, terrain, around these islands. Military ship- inadequate clothing, and attack. wrecks are located in the water or on- • DO NOT TOUCH, REMOVE OR DISTURB While the Allied forces planned a shore around the islands; among them a final invasion of Kiska, the Japanese Japanese mine-carrying vessel, midget • If possible, identify area on map evacuated troops, under the cover of submarine, and merchant ship. Rem- fog. Expecting intense fighting and nants of military aircraft, bunkers, tun- • Record size and shape WITHOUT heavy losses, American and Cana- nels, guns and munitions can also be TOUCHING dian military forces invaded on Au- found on the islands. When war opera- gust 15, 1943, only to be greeted by tions in the Aleutians were halted, much • Take a photograph of the item abandoned Japanese camps, weap- of the remaining ordnance was buried ons and equipment. by the American military; these dumps All types of explosives represent se- rious hazards; they can be more Caution For Island Visitors deadly than when initially dropped or fired during battle. For your safety Large amounts of ordnance and ex- and the safety of others, assume that plosives were stored, used and dis- all ordnance and explosives are live posed of on Kiska and Little Kiska and may explode. Islands. During the first half of 1943, Allied planes dropped over 3 Until the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- million pounds of bombs on both neers conducts site investigations Kiska and Little Kiska islands. and attempts to remove known mili- Many of these bombs may not have Piles of abandoned ammunition. tary ordnance and explosives, the exploded as intended. Other ord- public should take extreme caution in nance left on the islands after mili- contain shells, fuzes, bombs and other accessing these islands. tary demobilization included count- explosives. But even long-buried items less numbers of Japanese and Allied can eventually be brought to the surface Please report all findings to either: artillery, mortars, small munitions, by natural events such as earthquakes, grenades and land mines as well as storms, wave action or soil erosion. Alaska Maritime Japanese booby traps. Military ordnance and explosives are National Wildlife Refuge designed to destroy equipment and kill/ 95 Sterling Highway, Suite 1 Homer, Alaska 99603 maim people. Regardless of harsh con- (907) 235-6546 ditions or age, explosives remain lethal and can become more sensitive to Alaska Maritime National Wildlife movement. Weather and soil conditions Refuge - Aleutian Islands Unit may alter appearances so that today Box 5251 shells and fuses may appear rusty and Adak, Alaska 999546 be difficult to recognize. Many items (907) 592-2406 may be partially or totally buried, with Department of the Army little or no portions visible through the 176th Ordnance Detachment (EOD) vegetation or soil. These items may Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-6078 Artillery shells litter the island. appear as rusty pipes or pipe fittings. (907) 384-7603 or (907) 384-2307