![]() ![]() December, January and February are the coldest, bleakest months of the year in Alaska. The exception, of course, is polar bears, which don’t hibernate and are still active up in northern Alaska, though much less so than they are in summer. ![]() As the weather turns, food is getting scarcer, and bears are starting to retreat to their dens in October and November. Alaska holidays in winter are few and far between, though some operators may be able to help with tailor made itineraries. Whale-watching tours are winding down, and though expert crews know where to find them, you’ll want to wrap up well against the exposure. September is also another good month for viewing the Northern Lights. Still, the later you can go the better as far as bear watching is concerned, especially if you want to photograph them against the gorgeous autumnal foliage. By September, Alaska’s short tourist season is already drawing to a close. Moose are rutting and the bears, with one eye on the approaching winter, are very active hunting in order to bulk up. The wildlife isn’t put off by the rain for a moment though. August, mid-summer, is the warmest (16-17☌) and wettest month of the year in Alaska. It’s also the height of the season for whale-watching tours, when you might encounter humpbacks, belugas and more. July is also the peak month to witness grizzlies snatching salmon mid-leap at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. Bears are in their element in July, often seen along the Katmai coast, fishing for razor clams and mating. Grizzlies can already be seen around Lake Clark and Kodiak Island in significant numbers as the salmon-spawning season gets underway. It’s the cusp of peak bear season, and just before the main summer season. June is an excellent time to visit Alaska. May is a great month for birdwatchers, with migratory songbirds making an appearance, and seabirds nesting in coastal areas. Off the coast, grey whales can be observed passing Sitka and Kodiak by April, with other species not far behind – orca whales are likely to be found off the Kenai Peninsula around this time too. Caribou are calving, and other members of Alaska’s ‘Big Five’, including bears and Dall sheep, can often be seen amid lush green vegetation. With the progression of spring, wildlife begins making its way further north. If you’re on an Alaska wildlife cruise then you also stand a good chance of seeing marine life such as walrus and seals, as the ice pack begins to recede in spring. ![]() Clear skies make March one of the best months for viewing the aurora borealis in Alaska too. A female can have one to three cubs which will stay with her for up to three and a half years.Alaska’s brown (grizzly) and black bears are emerging from hibernation in March, with quite the appetite. With delayed implantation, cubs are born midwinter. Mating usually occurs in June and July, with a pair coming together for one or two weeks and mating several times. During this time they eat nearly nonstop.įemale bears reach sexual maturity around six years of age. Berries, especially blueberries (Vaccinium uliginosum) and soapberries (Shepherdia canadensis) form the bulk of the diet starting in late July when grizzly bears go into a feeding frenzy called hyperphagia. Green vegetation is preferred through the summer. The roots of peavine (Hedysarum alpinum) are important spring and late fall food. They will scavenge carrion when available. They are also predators of caribou and moose and their calves. Grizzly bears are omnivorous, eating a mixed diet of grasses, berries, roots, fish and small mammals. During the breeding season, a male may attend a female for up to two weeks for mating. Grizzly bears can be seen in close proximity in areas of abundant food, such as berry patches and salmon spawning areas. Grizzly bears usually live as lone individuals, except for females accompanied by their cubs. The grizzly bear is characterized by a distinctive hump on the shoulders, a slightly dished profile to the face, and long claws on the front paws. ![]()
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