meet the local WILDLIFE

Alaska’s Interior and Arctic, including the Fairbanks area and Denali, are well known for large, unspoiled landscapes that serve as great habitat for animals. Each highway branching out from Fairbanks crosses large tracts of boreal forest, subalpine or Arctic tundra. Along the way, you may see moose, bear, fox or caribou. Also keep your eyes open for beaver, ermine, red squirrels and other small animals. Be sure to take your binoculars for close-up views from a safe distance.

Moose are a common part of life for most Alaskans. These massive, hulking creatures wander through our sports fields, poke around our neighborhoods and nonchalantly cross our roads and highways. Moose are generally happy to pose for a picture or two but leave them plenty of room, especially when calves are nearby.

Caribou travel in large herds during spring and fall migrations but are often seen in small bands or as individuals during the summer. In Fairbanks, some visitor attractions include experiences with caribou’s domesticated cousin—reindeer—and are a popular way to learn about these fascinating animals and snap an up-close photo or selfie.

Bears may be spotted fishing along streams with spawning salmon in the summer. In late summer and fall, they are often found feeding on berries in open meadows or on the tundra. Black bear populations are plentiful in Alaska’s Interior, but sightings of this shy animal are rare outside of national parks and state recreation areas. Bring along potent bear spray if you’re hiking outside of urban areas, just in case.

Fox are another commonality in the Fairbanks area and can sometimes be seen darting across the road in woody, brushy areas. If you’re lucky, you may see one with the “cross” coloration—a dark band crossing the shoulders and back. Look for the Arctic fox north of the Brooks Range. White in winter and gray or brown in summer, its ears and body are smaller compared to the red fox.

Birds abound in the Interior and Fairbanks is a thoroughfare for hundreds of species. A walk through local fields and forest trails will reveal sandhill cranes, Canada geese, snow buntings, Townsend’s warblers and more. Spot alpine species such as the northern wheatear, surfbirds and willow or rock ptarmigan. Mighty birds of prey like osprey, northern goshawk, eagles and boreal and northern hawk owls keep a close eye on everything.

Muskox have roamed the Earth for over 600,000 years, once mingling on the Arctic tundra with woolly mammoths and sabertooth tigers. These odd-looking, rotund creatures are rare to see in the wild but easy to spot at the Large Animal Research Station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. You can even take a tour to learn more about these fascinating Ice Age relics.

Fairbanks’ northern region is rich with Alaska Native heritage. Many different indigenous groups in Alaska first called the Last Frontier their home thousands of years prior to the miners and merchants of the gold rush. Each has their own way of life, including language, material culture and traditions. Adventurous travelers can visit remote villages and be inspired by the resourceful and contemporary lifestyle of Interior and Arctic peoples.

Athabascan people are predominant in Alaska’s vast Interior. Once nomadic, they now live in small villages and are known for their decorative beadwork, birch bark baskets and skin-sewed garments. The Inupiaq a rich tapestry of

Inuit of the Far North are often coastal and create elegant carvings of the natural world around them from ivory, bone and driftwood.

Alaska Native peoples create works of art out of strikingly different materials like caribou antler, moose hide, whale baleen and walrus ivory.

Authentic Alaska Native made gifts and artwork can be found in many galleries and specialty stores. Traditional Alaska Native athletic games and performing arts like drumming, dancing and fiddle playing can be seen during special events around town, offering an authentic view into the past as well as a bridge to the future.