land ANIMALS

Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) is home to 29 species of land mammals. Iconic species such as moose, black bear, brown bear, and mountain goat are joined by beaver, porcupine, snowshoe hare, coyote, lynx, and more. Wildlife cruises (p. 20) offer opportunities to spot black bears on beaches and mountain goats on steep alpine walls.

The safest way to see these powerful animals up close is at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (p. 61), a 200-acre wildlife sanctuary located at Mile 79 of the Seward Highway.

When hiking the Harding Icefield Trail (p. 19) be sure to stop by the Exit Glacier Nature Center (p. 57) to ask the park rangers about recent wildlife sightings and safety precautions.

Gray whale tours of Resurrection Bay start in mid-March, while humpback whale are best spotted from May to August. Orca can be found year-round, with the highest chances of being seen from mid-May to mid-June.