Page 69 - Breath of the Bear

Susi Zimmermann Bill Feller

ANAN WILDLIFE OBSERVATORY

Wrangell,Alaska

WRANGELL’S

PREMIER JET BOAT Observatory was only known to the locals of winter food reserves. Today this creek still
A generation or two ago, Anan Wildlife
has one of the largest pink salmon run in
OPERATION! Wrangell, Alaska. Before the observatory, the Southeast Alaska. Both black and brown
bears are attracted to the creek with mainly
photo blind, trail, and stairs, there were only
salmon and the bears. Tourists wandering
mothers, their cubs, and juvenile bears taking
into Wrangell had to be convinced to take an advantage of the abundance of fish.
hour boat ride, land on a rocky beach, and hike
Stikine River into a dark, overgrown forest with only the Dee Galla, Outdoor Recreation Planner for
Tours From guide they had just met a few hours before. Anan with the Wrangell Ranger District, said
$230. 00 But for those brave individuals who listened that during the July-August salmon run, there
to local guides, they were rewarded with an are approximately 40-60 black bears and
experience right out of a high adventure novel. 8-12 brown bears that use the area during
the season, however, Anan Creek seems most
Today, Anan Wildlife Observatory is a world suited to the black bears.
class bear viewing destination. Located 30 “I haven’t conducted an official study on
miles southeast of the town of Wrangell this,” said Galla, “but the black bears seem
and nestled in the Tongass National Forest, to have a fishing strategy. They like the small
Operating the observatory offers visitors a chance to crevices and deep waters of the creek and
be within feet of these giants of the forest.
tend not to plunge into the water and sit down
Since 1989 Anan Creek was an ancient fishing ground like brown bears.”
for the Stikine Tlingit clans who would catch
Bus Style Seating! and preserve the large salmon run for their Getting to the wildlife observatory requires
Better Comfort & View!

STIKINE RIVER
ANAN BEAR OBSERVATORY
SHAKES & LECONTE GLACIERS
SKIFF/CANOE RENTALS
& SUPPORT

1-907-874-2488

info@breakawayadventures.com
www.breakawayadventures.com

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