Page 10 - Breath of the Bear

TM

Misty Fjords National Monument Fly-in eagles, and a wide variety of songbirds. Visitors unafraid. Today, we call the area Admiralty
Forty miles east of Ketchikan in the Tongass occasionally see wolves fishing for salmon at Island and it is still home to one of the largest
National Forest is a national monument and this site. concentration of brown bears in North America.
wilderness area. Small glaciers dot the area Pack Creek Wildlife Viewing Area is an
and canals criss-cross the valleys beckoning to Bears use the Fish Creek site from mid-July outstanding place to capture photographs of
be explored by kayak. This area is very remote through early September, following the arrival brown bears, eagles, and even whales, as they
,so most visitors arrive by cruise ship or charter of salmon that return to the fresh waters of the navigate the channels around the island.
plane. After landing in the water, disembarking creeks to spawn. The site is open from 6:00 am
is onto a floatplane platform, as shoreline to 10:00 pm daily. Forest Service employees Traitor’s Cove
excursions are not permitted by the USFS are at the site during these hours to provide A popular bear-viewing area and a short
within the National Monument. information about the bears and salmon, 20-minute flight from Ketchikan. After
enforce site rules, and answer questions from disembarking from the plane, there is a
Hyder Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site Road visitors. short 10-12 minute guided walk through
A town of about 85 that sits in the shadow the rainforest, where local flora and fauna is
of glaciers and sandwiched between two Fortress of the Bear Road pointed out. At Margaret Creek, there is a bear-
international borders, Hyder has no property The rescue center opened in 2007 and now viewing platform situated above a waterfall and
taxes, nor do they have a police force. Citizens houses 8 bears. More than 20,000 visitors per a unique fish ladder that helps the spawning
can openly carry firearms. The Alaskan spirit year come to experience the majesty of these salmon, but also makes for an easy lunch for
of independence and resourcefulness lives amazing creatures. They have sent bears to the bears. The area is wide open and the short
here and so does an abundance of wildlife. the Bronx Zoo, Montana Grizzly Encounter, hike is one of the prettiest in the area. The site
There is one road into town and in the summer and the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary is maintained by USFS and permits are limited.
thousands of tourists descend on this place in Boyd, Texas. Their goal is to work with the
to see the salmon run and the bears. The Fish Alaska Department of Fish & Game to someday Neets Bay
Creek Wildlife Observation Site is a day-use release rehabbed bears back into the wild. It has been said that Ketchikan has some of
recreation area in the Salmon River Valley near As a 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization, they the best bear viewing in Alaska. If that is the
Hyder, Alaska. Both brown (grizzly) and black rely solely on admission fees and donations case, then Neets is the epicenter. Located 40
bears can be observed and photographed at for funding. Please consider helping support miles from downtown Ketchikan, this area can
the site as they fish for chum and pink salmon Fortress of the Bear. only be assessed by floatplane or boat. The
in the clear shallow waters of Fish Creek and bears gravitate to Neets Bay thanks in part
Marx Creek. Visitors will see wild bears in their Admiralty Island to the fish hatchery, which produces summer
natural habitat in this beautiful glacial river The native Tinglit people called the area and fall chum, fall coho, and chinook salmon.
valley. Other wildlife frequently seen include “Kootznoowoo.” meaning fortress of the bears. The eggs of the salmon are collected from the
nesting Canada geese, harlequin ducks, They knew that the bears outnumbered them returning fish, raised in the hatchery, and then
common mergansers, mink, beaver, bald and on this island they roamed freely and released at several remote sites, thus ensuring

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