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August 1, 2013 Thursday
Day 25
Today we took an hour long boat ride on Alaska Vista Tours to Anan Wildlife Observatory. Anan means sit down place. It is a place in the Tongass National Forest where the salmon are so plentiful in Anan Creek that opposing groups of Tlingit Natives would sit down here and settle disputes over hunting and fishing rights. Black and brown bears also call a truce here as they catch pink salmon heading towards the salmon spawning grounds.
Accessible only by boat or plane, Anan Wildlife Observatory is owned and operated by the U.S. Forest Service. There is a one half mile long trail going to an observation platform overlooking the salmon filled creek.
We had armed guides with us on the trail and on the observation platform, because we were in the bears' territory. We saw so many bears and bald eagles, too, catching salmon. It was so cool observing the bear habits. One big bear was peacefully eating by the creek, when another comes lumbering out of the woods, sees the first bear, stops and quickly turns right around and back into the woods he goes. They do not get too close to each other. Also, the whole time we were there, we watched a mother bear and her 8 month old cub, alternately fishing in the creek, then running up a tree, and waiting when other bears appeared anywhere in their vicinity. The cub was so cute; we even got to see him nursing.
Some bears at times came so close to our platform, that if we leaned over the railing, we could literally touch one. We didn't, of course; we would all slowly move into the center of the platform, as directed by our guides. These bears are used to human presence and they do not view humans as a threat because of the controlled way the Forest Service operates these observation trips, but you never know what might set off a bear, so we always paid close attention to our guides! Bears were everywhere, napping up in trees, or behind huge rocks along the creek, fishing and playing in the creek, walking in the woods - it was the coolest experience and one we will never forget.
We arrived back in the harbor in Wrangell at around 5:00pm. Hooked the camper to our car and set off for the Ferry to Petersburg.
Wildlife Sightings
Bears, black and brown
Eagles
Harbor seals
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