Petersburg’S Harbors
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W O W ildlife ildlife ur atch Sea lion photo © A.W. Hanger. All other photos © Jamie Karnik, ADF&G ADF&G Karnik, Jamie © photos other All Hanger. A.W. © photo lion Sea Fluke photo © ADF&G. Bubblenet feeding photo © Karla Hart. Viewers photo © ADF&G. ADF&G. © photo Viewers Hart. Karla © photo feeding Bubblenet ADF&G. © photo Fluke Fish and Game Game and Fish visit wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov visit communities, Alaska Department of of Department Alaska visitor center on First and Fram Street. Street. Fram and First on center visitor browse through wildlife viewing sites in other other in sites viewing wildlife through browse 907-772-4636. In Petersburg, stop by the the by stop Petersburg, In 907-772-4636. about the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail, or to to or Trail, Viewing Wildlife Coastal Alaska the about www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov or call call or www.petersburg.org Visit FOR MORE INFORMATION INFORMATION MORE FOR Petersburg Visitor Information Center. Center. Information Visitor Petersburg For information on tours and lodging, consult the the consult lodging, and tours on information For Skagway and Wrangell. Wrangell. and Skagway providers and employers. employers. and providers are equal opportunity opportunity equal are Wales Island, Sitka, Sitka, Island, Wales the wildlife viewing as well. well. as viewing wildlife the All public partners partners public All Petersburg, Prince of of Prince Petersburg, few days in town, you’ll come to appreciate the bounty of of bounty the appreciate to come you’ll town, in days few Restoration Program Program Restoration Juneau,Ketchikan, Juneau,Ketchikan, still a major part of life in Petersburg, but after spending a a spending after but Petersburg, in life of part major a still Wildlife Conservation and and Conservation Wildlife Fish and Wildlife Service Service Wildlife and Fish U.S. Gustavus,Haines, Gustavus,Haines, festival celebrates this Norwegian heritage each May. Fish is is Fish May. each heritage Norwegian this celebrates festival communities of of communities for the same reason, and the community’s“Little Norway” Norway” community’s“Little the and reason, same the for century, Norwegian immigrants were drawn to the region region the to drawn were immigrants Norwegian century, in and near the the near and in rich bounty of the marine waters. In the late nineteenth nineteenth late the In waters. marine the of bounty rich wildlife viewing sites sites viewing wildlife Tlingit people settled in the Petersburg area because of the the of because area Petersburg the in settled people Tlingit highlights over 70 70 over highlights Wildlife Viewing Trail Trail Viewing Wildlife and tours to Leconte Bay. Bay. Leconte to tours and Alaska Coastal Coastal Alaska Plan ahead for dramatic whale watching in Frederick Sound Sound Frederick in watching whale dramatic for ahead Plan Segment of the the of Segment staying alert for a Sitka black-tailed deer watching you. you. watching deer black-tailed Sitka a for alert staying the Inside Passage Passage Inside the downtown, watching for sea lions and bald eagles, and and eagles, bald and lions sea for watching downtown, the Stikine River, River, Stikine the dotted icebergs or humpback whales.Wander the streets of of streets the whales.Wander humpback or icebergs dotted during their annual migration. Paddle a kayak amid seal- amid kayak a Paddle migration. annual their during Sound to the birds of of birds the to Sound moose along the way. Catch a glimpse of trumpeter swans swans trumpeter of glimpse a Catch way. the along moose whales of Frederick Frederick of whales Drive the roads around Mitkof Island, looking for bears and and bears for looking Island, Mitkof around roads the Drive eagles of Haines, the the Haines, of eagles Hyder to the bald bald the to Hyder Place for Wildlife Viewing Viewing Wildlife for Place From the bears of of bears the From Petersburg: A “Whale” of a a of “Whale” A Petersburg: Guide Guide Guide Viewing Viewing Viewing Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife PETERSBURG Wildlife Viewing Tips Traveling Safely in Bear Country Keep a Low Profile. Enjoy watching animals’ (All of Petersburg is bear country) natural behaviors. Resist the temptation to try to Watchable Wildlife “Fun Facts” Making noise (sing, clap, talk) while you travel will attract their attention with sounds. If your presence is reduce your chances of surprising a bear. Be alert along causing an animal to stop feeding or act restless, give it Tiny Bubbles: Bubblenet feeding is a cooperative noisy streams, in thick brush, and when visibility is poor. more space. Be especially respectful of nesting and feeding behavior seen in Southeast Alaska, but Always keep your belongings (backpack, food, fish, etc.) denning areas, rookeries and calving grounds, and uncommon elsewhere. A school of fish, such as herring, is with you or in bear-proof storage. critical feeding areas. corralled into a tight ball. One whale dives beneath the If you see a bear, stay calm. If the bear does not notice Time it Right. Dawn and dusk are when many you, quietly leave, keeping your eyes on the bear. school, circling and wildlife species are most active. Midday warmth If it does notice you, face the bear, wave your arms and blowing bubbles. energizes dragonflies and butterflies and creates talk to it calmly. If it approaches you, stand your ground. thermals for eagles and hawks. Low tides expose The bubbles rise Never run from a bear. tidepools and a wealth of food for birds and mammals. through the water column as a kind of If a bear is surprised at close distance, it may feel threatened Look for Clues. Tracks, droppings, trails and twigs disorienting curtain and act defensively, especially if it has cubs or food. tell stories of wildlife in the area - what they are surrounding and Stand your ground! If the bear strikes or bites you, lie on eating, where they live and when they passed through. confining the school of your front, protect your face and neck and remain still. In Noticing and reading these clues adds richness to fish. As this ring of bubbles rare instances, bears may be predatory. Fight back if the wildlife viewing.Tracking books and workshops will reaches the surface, the group attack is prolonged. help you. of whales lunges up through the prey, gulping tons of Help Keep Wildlife Wild. Never feed wild water and fish. animals. Doing so can cause them to associate people with food, which can cause trouble. Human food can Alaska’s Rainforest Islands: For a diverse also make them sick. complement of wildlife viewing, landscapes Be Considerate of Others. People use and enjoy (from a tidewater Alaska’s wildlife in a variety of ways. Respect private glacier to caves with property and give hunters, anglers and others plenty of ancient animal space. bones), cultures, and old-fashioned Alaska STAY SAFE! hospitality, combine The mountains, trails, islands and waterways of your Petersburg visit the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail are wild with trips to Wrangell lands. For safety, take a guided tour or take a and Prince of Wales Island. companion, let someone know your plans and be The new Inter-Island ferry offers prepared for emergencies with spare clothes, a convenient connections between these three first aid kit and a means of communication. Visit destinations. For more information, visit the Alaska State Parks’ Staying Safe web page for www.alaskarainforestislands.com. details: www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/safety. Watch for sea lions in Petersburg’s harbors. W O W ildlife ildlife ur atch Sea lion photo © A.W. Hanger. All other photos © Jamie Karnik, ADF&G ADF&G Karnik, Jamie © photos other All Hanger. A.W. © photo lion Sea Fluke photo © ADF&G. Bubblenet feeding photo © Karla Hart. Viewers photo © ADF&G. ADF&G. © photo Viewers Hart. Karla © photo feeding Bubblenet ADF&G. © photo Fluke Fish and Game Game and Fish visit wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov visit communities, Alaska Department of of Department Alaska visitor center on First and Fram Street. Street. Fram and First on center visitor browse through wildlife viewing sites in other other in sites viewing wildlife through browse 907-772-4636. In Petersburg, stop by the the by stop Petersburg, In 907-772-4636. about the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail, or to to or Trail, Viewing Wildlife Coastal Alaska the about www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov or call call or www.petersburg.org Visit FOR MORE INFORMATION INFORMATION MORE FOR Petersburg Visitor Information Center. Center. Information Visitor Petersburg For information on tours and lodging, consult the the consult lodging, and tours on information For Skagway and Wrangell. Wrangell. and Skagway providers and employers. employers. and providers are equal opportunity opportunity equal are Wales Island, Sitka, Sitka, Island, Wales the wildlife viewing as well. well. as viewing wildlife the All public partners partners public All Petersburg, Prince of of Prince Petersburg, few days in town, you’ll come to appreciate the bounty of of bounty the appreciate to come you’ll town, in days few Restoration Program Program Restoration Juneau,Ketchikan, Juneau,Ketchikan, still a major part of life in Petersburg, but after spending a a spending after but Petersburg, in life of part major a still Wildlife Conservation and and Conservation Wildlife Fish and Wildlife Service Service Wildlife and Fish U.S. Gustavus,Haines, Gustavus,Haines, festival celebrates this Norwegian heritage each May. Fish is is Fish May. each heritage Norwegian this celebrates festival communities of of communities for the same reason, and the community’s“Little Norway” Norway” community’s“Little the and reason, same the for century, Norwegian immigrants were drawn to the region region the to drawn were immigrants Norwegian century, in and near the the near and in rich bounty of the marine waters.