Petersburg’S Harbors

Watch for sea lions in Petersburg’s harbors. harbors. Petersburg’s in lions sea for Watch

details: www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/safety. details: details: www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/safety. www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/safety. details:

. . www.alaskarainforestislands.com

the Alaska State Parks’ Staying Safe web page for page web Safe Staying Parks’ State Alaska the the Alaska State Parks’ Staying Safe web page for for page web Safe Staying Parks’ State Alaska the

destinations. For more information, visit visit information, more For destinations.

first aid kit and a means of communication. Visit communication. of means a and kit aid first first aid kit and a means of communication. Visit Visit communication. of means a and kit aid first

convenient connections between these three three these between connections convenient

prepared for emergencies with spare clothes, a clothes, spare with emergencies for prepared prepared for emergencies with spare clothes, a a clothes, spare with emergencies for prepared

The new Inter-Island ferry offers offers ferry Inter-Island new The

companion, let someone know your plans and be and plans your know someone let companion, companion, let someone know your plans and be be and plans your know someone let companion,

and Prince of Wales Island. Island. Wales of Prince and

lands. For safety, take a guided tour or take a take or tour guided a take safety, For lands. lands. For safety, take a guided tour or take a a take or tour guided a take safety, For lands.

with trips to Wrangell Wrangell to trips with

the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail are wild are Trail Viewing Wildlife Coastal Alaska the the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail are wild wild are Trail Viewing Wildlife Coastal Alaska the

your Petersburg visit visit Petersburg your

The mountains, trails, islands and waterways of waterways and islands trails, mountains, The The mountains, trails, islands and waterways of of waterways and islands trails, mountains, The

hospitality, combine combine hospitality,

STAY SAFE! STAY STAY SAFE! SAFE! STAY

old-fashioned Alaska Alaska old-fashioned

bones), cultures, and and cultures, bones), space. space.

ancient animal animal ancient property and give hunters, anglers and others plenty of of plenty others and anglers hunters, give and property

glacier to caves with with caves to glacier Alaska’s wildlife in a variety of ways. Respect private private Respect ways. of variety a in wildlife Alaska’s

(from a tidewater tidewater a (from Be Considerate of Others. Others. of Considerate Be People use and enjoy enjoy and use People

viewing, landscapes landscapes viewing,

also make them sick. sick. them make also

complement of wildlife wildlife of complement

with food, which can cause trouble. Human food can can food Human trouble. cause can which food, with

Alaska’s Rainforest Islands: Islands: Rainforest Alaska’s For a diverse diverse a For

animals. Doing so can cause them to associate people people associate to them cause can so Doing animals.

Help Keep Wildlife Wild. Wild. Wildlife Keep Help Never feed wild wild feed Never water and fish. fish. and water

of whales lunges up through the prey, gulping tons of of tons gulping prey, the through up lunges whales of

help you. you. help

reaches the surface, the group group the surface, the reaches attack is prolonged. prolonged. is attack wildlife viewing.Tracking books and workshops will will workshops and books viewing.Tracking wildlife

fish. As this ring of bubbles bubbles of ring this As fish. rare instances, bears may be predatory. Fight back if the the if back Fight predatory. be may bears instances, rare Noticing and reading these clues adds richness to to richness adds clues these reading and Noticing

confining the school of of school the confining your front, protect your face and neck and remain still. In In still. remain and neck and face your protect front, your eating, where they live and when they passed through. through. passed they when and live they where eating,

surrounding and and surrounding Stand your ground! your Stand If the bear strikes or bites you, lie on on lie you, bites or strikes bear the If tell stories of wildlife in the area - what they are are they what - area the in wildlife of stories tell

disorienting curtain curtain disorienting and act defensively, especially if it has cubs or food. food. or cubs has it if especially defensively, act and Look for Clues. Clues. for Look Tracks, droppings, trails and twigs twigs and trails droppings, Tracks,

column as a kind of of kind a as column If a bear is surprised at close distance, it may feel threatened threatened feel may it distance, close at surprised is bear a If

tidepools and a wealth of food for birds and mammals. mammals. and birds for food of wealth a and tidepools

through the water water the through

Never run from a bear. bear. a from run Never

thermals for eagles and hawks. Low tides expose expose tides Low hawks. and eagles for thermals

The bubbles rise rise bubbles The

talk to it calmly. If it approaches you, stand your ground. ground. your stand you, approaches it If calmly. it to talk energizes dragonflies and butterflies and creates creates and butterflies and dragonflies energizes

blowing bubbles. bubbles. blowing

If it does notice you, face the bear, wave your arms and and arms your wave bear, the face you, notice does it If wildlife species are most active. Midday warmth warmth Midday active. most are species wildlife

school, circling and and circling school,

you, quietly leave, keeping your eyes on the bear. bear. the on eyes your keeping leave, quietly you, Time it Right. Right. it Time Dawn and dusk are when many many when are dusk and Dawn

whale dives beneath the the beneath dives whale

stay calm stay . If the bear does not notice notice not does bear the If . If you see a bear, bear, a see you If

corralled into a tight ball. One One ball. tight a into corralled critical feeding areas. areas. feeding critical

with you or in bear-proof storage. storage. bear-proof in or you with uncommon elsewhere. A school of fish, such as herring, is is herring, as such fish, of school A elsewhere. uncommon denning areas, rookeries and calving grounds, and and grounds, calving and rookeries areas, denning

Always keep your belongings (backpack, food, fish, etc.) etc.) fish, food, (backpack, belongings your keep Always feeding behavior seen in Southeast Alaska, but but Alaska, Southeast in seen behavior feeding more space. Be especially respectful of nesting and and nesting of respectful especially Be space. more

noisy streams, in thick brush, and when visibility is poor. poor. is visibility when and brush, thick in streams, noisy Tiny Bubbles: Bubbles: Tiny Bubblenet feeding is a cooperative cooperative a is feeding Bubblenet causing an animal to stop feeding or act restless, give it it give restless, act or feeding stop to animal an causing

reduce your chances of surprising a bear. Be alert along along alert Be bear. a surprising of chances your reduce attract their attention with sounds. If your presence is is presence your If sounds. with attention their attract

Watchable Wildlife “Fun Facts” Facts” “Fun Wildlife Watchable

Making noise noise Making (sing, clap, talk) while you travel will will travel you while talk) clap, (sing, natural behaviors. Resist the temptation to try to to try to temptation the Resist behaviors. natural

Keep a Low Profile. Profile. Low a Keep

Enjoy watching animals’ animals’ watching Enjoy (All of Petersburg is bear country) country) bear is Petersburg of (All

Wildlife Viewing Tips Tips Viewing Wildlife Traveling Safely in Bear Country Country Bear in Safely Traveling

PETERSBURG Wildlife Viewing Guide Petersburg: A “Whale” of a From the bears of Place for Wildlife Viewing Hyder to the bald Drive the roads around Mitkof Island, looking for bears and eagles of Haines, the moose along the way. Catch a glimpse of trumpeter swans whales of Frederick during their annual migration. Paddle a kayak amid seal- Sound to the birds of dotted icebergs or humpback whales.Wander the streets of the Stikine River, downtown, watching for sea lions and bald eagles, and the Inside Passage staying alert for a Sitka black-tailed deer watching you. Segment of the Plan ahead for dramatic whale watching in Frederick Sound Alaska Coastal and tours to Leconte Bay. Wildlife Viewing Trail Tlingit people settled in the Petersburg area because of the highlights over 70 rich bounty of the marine waters. In the late nineteenth wildlife viewing sites century, Norwegian immigrants were drawn to the region in and near the for the same reason, and the community’s“Little Norway” communities of festival celebrates this Norwegian heritage each May. Fish is Gustavus,Haines, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still a major part of life in Petersburg, but after spending a Juneau,Ketchikan, Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program few days in town, you’ll come to appreciate the bounty of Petersburg, Prince of the wildlife viewing as well. All public partners Wales Island, Sitka, are equal opportunity For information on tours and lodging, consult the Skagway and Wrangell. providers and employers. Petersburg Visitor Information Center. Visit www.petersburg.org or call FOR MORE INFORMATION www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov 907-772-4636. In Petersburg, stop by the about the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail, or to visitor center on First and Fram Street. browse through wildlife viewing sites in other communities, visit wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov Alaska Department of Fish and Game Fluke photo © ADF&G. Bubblenet feeding photo © Karla Hart. Viewers photo © ADF&G. Sea lion photo © A.W. Hanger. All other photos © Jamie Karnik, ADF&G Watch Our Wildlife

Watch for sea lions in Petersburg’s harbors. harbors. Petersburg’s in lions sea for Watch

details: www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/safety. details: details: www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/safety. www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/safety. details:

. . www.alaskarainforestislands.com

destinations. For more information, visit visit information, more For destinations.

first aid kit and a means of communication. Visit communication. of means a and kit aid first first aid kit and a means of communication. Visit Visit communication. of means a and kit aid first

convenient connections between these three three these between connections convenient

prepared for emergencies with spare clothes, a clothes, spare with emergencies for prepared prepared for emergencies with spare clothes, a a clothes, spare with emergencies for prepared

The new Inter-Island ferry offers offers ferry Inter-Island new The

companion, let someone know your plans and be and plans your know someone let companion, companion, let someone know your plans and be be and plans your know someone let companion,

and Prince of Wales Island. Island. Wales of Prince and

lands. For safety, take a guided tour or take a take or tour guided a take safety, For lands. lands. For safety, take a guided tour or take a a take or tour guided a take safety, For lands.

with trips to Wrangell Wrangell to trips with

the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail are wild are Trail Viewing Wildlife Coastal Alaska the the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail are wild wild are Trail Viewing Wildlife Coastal Alaska the

your Petersburg visit visit Petersburg your

The mountains, trails, islands and waterways of waterways and islands trails, mountains, The The mountains, trails, islands and waterways of of waterways and islands trails, mountains, The

hospitality, combine combine hospitality,

STAY SAFE! STAY STAY SAFE! SAFE! STAY

old-fashioned Alaska Alaska old-fashioned

bones), cultures, and and cultures, bones), space. space.

ancient animal animal ancient property and give hunters, anglers and others plenty of of plenty others and anglers hunters, give and property

glacier to caves with with caves to glacier Alaska’s wildlife in a variety of ways. Respect private private Respect ways. of variety a in wildlife Alaska’s

(from a tidewater tidewater a (from Be Considerate of Others. Others. of Considerate Be People use and enjoy enjoy and use People

viewing, landscapes landscapes viewing,

also make them sick. sick. them make also

complement of wildlife wildlife of complement

with food, which can cause trouble. Human food can can food Human trouble. cause can which food, with

Alaska’s Rainforest Islands: Islands: Rainforest Alaska’s For a diverse diverse a For

animals. Doing so can cause them to associate people people associate to them cause can so Doing animals.

Help Keep Wildlife Wild. Wild. Wildlife Keep Help Never feed wild wild feed Never water and fish. fish. and water

of whales lunges up through the prey, gulping tons of of tons gulping prey, the through up lunges whales of

help you. you. help

column as a kind of of kind a as column If a bear is surprised at close distance, it may feel threatened threatened feel may it distance, close at surprised is bear a If

tidepools and a wealth of food for birds and mammals. mammals. and birds for food of wealth a and tidepools

through the water water the through

Never run from a bear. bear. a from run Never

thermals for eagles and hawks. Low tides expose expose tides Low hawks. and eagles for thermals

The bubbles rise rise bubbles The

blowing bubbles. bubbles. blowing

school, circling and and circling school,

you, quietly leave, keeping your eyes on the bear. bear. the on eyes your keeping leave, quietly you, Time it Right. Right. it Time Dawn and dusk are when many many when are dusk and Dawn

whale dives beneath the the beneath dives whale

stay calm stay . If the bear does not notice notice not does bear the If . If you see a bear, bear, a see you If

corralled into a tight ball. One One ball. tight a into corralled critical feeding areas. areas. feeding critical

Watchable Wildlife “Fun Facts” Facts” “Fun Wildlife Watchable

Keep a Low Profile. Profile. Low a Keep

Enjoy watching animals’ animals’ watching Enjoy (All of Petersburg is bear country) country) bear is Petersburg of (All

Wildlife Viewing Tips Tips Viewing Wildlife Traveling Safely in Bear Country Country Bear in Safely Traveling

1. Downtown Petersburg , 1 - 2 hours 2. Eagle’s Roost Park ➞ , 1 - 2 hours 4 Keep your eyes open for wildlife in Downtown N 3. Outlook Park h ; Petersburg. 1 Sitka black-tailed deer are used to the 1 - 2 hours presence of humans, and close encounters are common 4. Whale Watching 1 during the spring and summer. Sandy Beach Road, the 2 3 h$ 6 - 8 hours + Hungry Point Trail, and areas around the ballfield are good 5. Leconte Bay places to look. Scan the harbors, especially the South h$ Harbor, for Steller sea lions. Bald eagles soar overhead 5 4 - 5 hours throughout the summer.Watch for Barrow’s goldeneyes, 6. Roads Around Mitkof Island harlequin ducks, red-breasted mergansers, long-tailed h , < 4 hours - full day + ducks, common mergansers and surf, common and white 6 9 7. Blind River Rapids winged scoters along the beaches near town in the winter. 7 h , 1 - 4 hours Bald eagles congregate in the trees at Eagle’s Roost 8 8. Trumpeter Swan Observatory Park 2 between late April and the end of June to scan h ; < 2 - 4 hours the waters of Wrangell Narrows for fish.Walk down the 9. Three Lakes Trail stairs to the beach for the best view of the treetops. Eagles , < will occasionally perch on the rocks on the beach, so stay 3-4 hours alert and maintain a respectful distance. Outside of May h Wheelchair accessible* , Hiking trails and June, eagle sightings at the park are possible but far $ less common, as most eagles are elsewhere nesting or Entry or tour fee Guided boat tours looking for food. Eagle’s Roost Park is just north of the ; Interpretive signs < Camping in area Petersburg Fisheries building along Nordic Drive. Scale: ~ 6 Miles * Not all boats are accessible, ask when booking. +Multi-day trips allow for the richest experience. Outlook Park 3 is about two miles east of downtown, after Nordic Drive changes to Sandy Beach Road. This Map is for locator reference only, not for navigational use. covered viewing area has three fixed binoculars and is one Map created with TOPO! software © 2006 National Geographic Maps. To learn more visit: www.nationalgeographic.com/topo of the best shore-based places in Petersburg to look for Harbor seals congregate and pup in Leconte Bay 5 where Pacific-slope flycatchers, belted kingfishers and winter humpback and killer whales. June through September is the ice deters their chief predator, the killer whale, from wren. In the winter, a few migrating trumpeter swans rest the best time to search for humpback whales here, with entering. Look for dozens of isolated mother-pup pairs between at the rapids, although sightings are more common at the viewing chances a little higher in July and August.The late May to the middle of June. During these months, a few bald Trumpeter Swan Observatory (see next site).The Blind likelihood of seeing killer whales is less predictable and eagles opportunistically hunt the newborn pups. Near the end River Rapids Trail is wheelchair accessible right down to more opportunistic. Look of July, mothers and pups the water. through binoculars for separate and additional seals At mile 16 of the Mitkof Highway is the Trumpeter Swan scoters,pigeon guillemots, enter the bay. It is possible to see Observatory, located along the waters of Blind harlequin ducks and other hundreds of seals dotting the 8 Slough. Between mid-October and December, hundreds of birds. Interpretive signs in icebergs during this time. trumpeter swans pass through to feed and rest here before the shelter provide Day boat tours and multi-day resuming their southward migration, and up to 75 swans information on bird kayak trips enter Leconte Bay overwinter here. An enclosed wheelchair accessible identification and humpback throughout the summer, viewing shelter allows wildlife watchers to observe the whales. providing a chance to look for swans without disrupting them, which is critical during wildlife and enjoy views of the While whales are migration and the difficult winter months. Bring binoculars Leconte Glacier, the southern sometimes visible from or a spotting scope for optimal viewing. This is also a good most active tidewater glacier in Outlook Park, a Whale summertime birding spot; look for mergansers, mallards, North America. Watching 4 trip Harbor seals enter Leconte Bay in May and June to have their geese, and bald eagles. provides more consistent, In addition to spending time in pups in safety. Twenty-one miles from downtown Petersburg, along the and often more spectacular, town and on the water, consider Three Lakes Loop road, is the Three Lakes Trail, viewing. Boats head to the area where Frederick Sound taking a drive on the Roads Around Mitkof Island. 6 The 9 which leads to Sand, Hill and Crane lakes. Look for moose meets Stephens Passage, where hundreds of humpback sides of the road are filled with grasses, low shrubs, wildflowers, at any time during the year, and black bears in the summer. whales feed in the summer months. Along with hump and succulents that make good food for many animals. Keep an Tracks, scat and markings on trees let you know bears or backs, look for killer whales, Dall’s porpoises, harbor seals, eye out for Sitka black-tailed deer along the road system at any moose are in the area. Beavers are Steller sea lions, scoters and marbled murrelets.Whale time of day.The area around Blind also found here, changing the watching trips start running in May, with whales seen on Slough is a good place to look for black landscape with their dams and most trips.The prime months for whale watching near bears, porcupines and moose.Trailheads lodges. Sandhill cranes occasionally Petersburg are July and August, when most humpbacks and campgrounds along the road visit these lakes during their have returned from their winter grounds in Hawaii. Boats system provide intrepid explorers with annual spring and fall migrations. take six people per trip, and booking months in advance is additional viewing chances. Rental cars This 4 1/ -mile trail is mostly advised. It is sometimes, though not often, possible to find are available in town, and local tour 2 boardwalk planks over gradual same- or next-day space on a tour while in town. Check operators provide transportation around terrain, but does have steep with the Visitor Information Center or look for posted signs the island. Check with the Visitor sections. around town for information on last-minute bookings. Information Center for details. Petersburg’s Marine Mammal Center has displays and an There are additional, sometimes At mile 14 of the Mitkof Highway is the interactive computer terminal with information about the Sitka black-tailed deer are often seen along the remote, wildlife viewing sites near Blind River Rapids Trail, a flat, roads of Mitkof Island. marine mammals in the area. Check with the Visitor 7 Petersburg. The Falls Creek 1/ -mile boardwalk through the muskeg Information Center for information on hours and location of 4 Salmon Ladder near mile 11 of the Mitkof Highway is a to the Blind River rapids.This is a good spot to view salmon runs. this growing center, or visit their website at popular salmon viewing site. USDA Forest Service Chinooks spawn in June and July, pinks in July and August, and www.psgmmc.org. Guided whale watching trips by kayak cabins dot the area, each providing a unique wildlife coho between August and October. Look for Sitka black-tailed are also available; check with the Visitor Information Center viewing experience. Boat charters take visitors to Thomas deer, bald eagles, moose and black bears during the summer, for information. Bay, and guided kayak trips visit Petersburg Creek on with evening the best time to look. Birds found in the area Kupreanof Island. Check with the Visitor Information Center include red-breasted sapsuckers, Steller’s jays, chickadees, for information on these sites.