ildlife W ur O atch W visitor center at 5 Broadway Street. Street. Broadway 5 at center visitor V i s i & All other photos ©ADF&G. photos other All t o n r o s i t Fish and Game and Fish visiting Unalaska, stop by the the by stop Unalaska, visiting Williams • Whale / Fox ©Ali Bonomo • Emperor goose / Seal ©Suzi Golodoff ©Suzi Seal / goose Emperor • Bonomo ©Ali Fox / Whale • Williams B n u e Crested auklets / Seacoast ©Dan Parrett • Sunset flowers ©Richard Bye • Otter ©Jim ©Jim Otter • Bye ©Richard flowers Sunset • Parrett ©Dan Seacoast / auklets Crested r v e n info or call (877)581-2612. While While (877)581-2612. call or info a Photos Alaska Department of of Department Alaska o u C Bureau. Visit www.unalaska. Visit Bureau. − − U r Harbor Convention and Visitors Visitors and Convention Harbor n www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov o a b l a r s a k H consult the Unalaska, Port of Dutch Dutch of Port Unalaska, the consult a , h c P t o u r D t f o For information on tours and lodging, lodging, and tours on information For interesting land animals inhabit these lands and waters. waters. and lands these inhabit animals land interesting visit www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov. www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov. visit For more information on wildlife viewing across Alaska, Alaska, across viewing wildlife on information more For the world, bountiful fish and marine mammals and several several and mammals marine and fish bountiful world, the Opportunities to see wildlife abound. Birds from all over over all from Birds abound. wildlife see to Opportunities in stores and online. online. and stores in Guide Viewing Wildlife Coastal fishing and scientific research. research. scientific and fishing Alaska’s South South Alaska’s for check and trail coastal the along seaport remains a center of global importance for commercial commercial for importance global of center a remains seaport and Unalaska. Pick up community brochures brochures community up Pick Unalaska. and all left their mark on the region. Today, this busy Pacific Rim Rim Pacific busy this Today, region. the on mark their left all Kodiak, Sand Point, Chignik, Cold Bay, False Pass Pass False Bay, Cold Chignik, Point, Sand Kodiak, Church and action in the North Pacific during World War II II War World during Pacific North the in action and Church Valdez, Whittier, Whittier, Valdez, continents. The Russian fur trade, the Russian Orthodox Orthodox Russian the trade, fur Russian The continents. Cordova, Cordova, Bering Sea’s natural resources and strategic location between between location strategic and resources natural Sea’s Bering the communities of of communities the harbingers of a more complex modern era centered on the the on centered era modern complex more a of harbingers sites in and around around and in sites Russian explorers, who gave them the name Aleuts, were were Aleuts, name the them gave who explorers, Russian of wildlife viewing viewing wildlife of Alaska Native people calling themselves the Unangan. Early Early Unangan. the themselves calling people Native Alaska Trail highlights dozens dozens highlights Trail For 9,000 years or more, the islands have been home to to home been have islands the more, or years 9,000 For segment of the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Viewing Wildlife Coastal Alaska the of segment and the Port of Dutch Harbor. Harbor. Dutch of Port the and Bay to the whales of Unalaska, the South Coastal Coastal South the Unalaska, of whales the to Bay beauty, rich history and lively seaport that make up Unalaska Unalaska up make that seaport lively and history rich beauty, bears of Kodiak Island, from the caribou of Cold Cold of caribou the from Island, Kodiak of bears the heart of the Aleutian Islands, discover the natural natural the discover Islands, Aleutian the of heart the In From the shorebirds of Cordova to the brown brown the to Cordova of shorebirds the From Guide Guide Guide Guide Unalaska: An Uncommon Uncommon An Unalaska: Place Viewing Viewing Viewing Viewing Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife PORT OF DUTCH HARBOR DUTCH OF PORT UNALASKA Wildlife Viewing Tips Land and Water Safety Tips Keep a Low Profile. Enjoy watching animals’ Weather Unalaska Island offers many hiking natural behaviors but try not to attract their attention opportunities—and no bears!—but hikers can run with sounds. If your presence is causing an animal Wildlife Viewing Fun Facts into trouble without proper preparation. It’s a common to stop feeding or act restless, give it more space. Be Winter Birding: The weather may be challenging but misconception that one can’t get lost in open treeless especially respectful of nesting and denning areas, winter birding is terrific thanks to the region’s ice-free bays, tundra, however, at 500 feet in elevation a summer fog can rookeries and calving grounds, and critical feeding which attract tremendous numbers of move in quickly and blanket the landscape. The fog can areas. Also, avoid causing whales to change their waterfowl and sea ducks, including hide challenging terrain like cliffs and steep river canyons behavior; approach no closer than 100 yards. long-tailed and harlequin ducks and it’s easy to become chilled in wet, inclement weather. Time it Right. Dawn and dusk are when many and huge flocks of scoters. The It’s safest to hike along the coast or follow well marked wildlife species are most active. Midday warmth Emperor goose (at right), whose trails and roads. Summer temperatures average 43°F to energizes dragonflies and butterflies and creates entire world population winters in 53°F, annual precipitation averages 58 inches and winds thermals for eagles and hawks. Low tides expose the Aleutians, and the Steller’s eider are ever present. tidepools and a wealth of food for birds and mammals. are easily seen and photographed from Permits Many lands you’ll cross are privately-owned by Look for Clues. Tracks, droppings, trails and twigs the roadways. On a winter walk around town, you may see a Ounalashka Corp. Please stop by their offices at 400 tell stories of wildlife - what they are eating, where peregrine falcon chasing snow buntings or a rock ptarmigan Salmon Way to obtain a general access permit. they live and when they passed through. Noticing and seeking relief from the deep snows at higher elevations. Tides Whether hiking or boating in coastal areas, stay reading these clues adds richness to wildlife viewing. Aleutian Mammals, Land and Marine: Scientists aware of the changing tides. Free tide books are available Tracking books and workshops will help you learn. believe only three land mammals (besides humans) are native at the boat harbor and many local businesses. Help Keep Wildlife Wild. Never feed wild to the region: a collared lemming, a root vole and the red fox animals. This is teaching them to associate people (native only in the eastern Aleutians). Red and Arctic foxes that with food, which can lead to trouble (and it’s illegal). were introduced throughout the Aleutians Human food can also make animals sick. for their fur have decimated seabird populations over the years. Be Considerate of Others. People use and Likewise, introduction of ground enjoy Alaska’s wildlife in a variety of ways. Respect squirrel, Norway rat and livestock STAY SAFE! private property and give hunters, anglers and others like the gelded wild horses plenty of space. The mountains, trails, islands and waterways at Summer Bay has also been of the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail are detrimental to area lands and native wild lands. To be safe, take a guided tour or a species. Marine mammals, on the other companion, let someone know your plans and hand, are diverse and abundant. Cold, nutrient-rich currents carry spare clothes, a first aid kit and a means of communication for emergencies. You may leave a that flow between the Bering Sea and North Pacific feed an hiking plan with the Unalaska Public Safety office explosion of life and productivity. At least 26 marine mammal (907-581-1233) or a float plan with the Ports and species and more than 450 fish species, as well as ancient Harbors office (907-581-1254) but please be sure Sea otters eat, sleep, mate and give birth in water. deep-sea corals, are found in Aleutian waters. to let them know when you’ve returned safely! ildlife W ur O atch W visitor center at 5 Broadway Street. Street. Broadway 5 at center visitor V i s i & All other photos ©ADF&G. photos other All t o n r o s i t Fish and Game and Fish visiting Unalaska, stop by the the by stop Unalaska, visiting Williams • Whale / Fox ©Ali Bonomo • Emperor goose / Seal ©Suzi Golodoff ©Suzi Seal / goose Emperor • Bonomo ©Ali Fox / Whale • Williams B n u e Crested auklets / Seacoast ©Dan Parrett • Sunset flowers ©Richard Bye • Otter ©Jim ©Jim Otter • Bye ©Richard flowers Sunset • Parrett ©Dan Seacoast / auklets Crested r v e n info or call (877)581-2612. While While (877)581-2612. call or info a Photos Alaska Department of of Department Alaska o u C Bureau. Visit www.unalaska. Visit Bureau. − − U r Harbor Convention and Visitors Visitors and Convention Harbor n www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov o a b l a r s a k H consult the Unalaska, Port of Dutch Dutch of Port Unalaska, the consult a , h c P t o u r D t f o For information on tours and lodging, lodging, and tours on information For interesting land animals inhabit these lands and waters. waters. and lands these inhabit animals land interesting visit www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov.