Tips For Wildlife Viewing In Southeast Alaska

Tips For Wildlife Viewing In Southeast Alaska

In General

Observe Animals From The Distance "They" consider Safe.

Approach wild animals slowly and quietly. Avoid sudden movements.

Avoid Using Tape-Recorded Calls Or Other Attraction Devices.

Avoid Chasing Or Harassing Animals Under Any Circumstances.

Harassing animals is against state law and punishable by a $1,000 fine and up six months in jail.

Learn Wild Animals Signals That Tell You Are Too Close.

This is your signal to sit or stand quietly or move slowly away. You may lose the chance for a prize-winning picture but gain the unique experience of viewing a wild animal behaving naturally, undisturbed by humans.

For Fish

Avoid Trampling a Streambank.

If at all possible, view spawning salmon from the bank of a stream and avoid walking among the redds or kicking up silt upstream from the fish.

SIGNS YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO FISH

Fish abandon spawning redds (depressions in the streambed dug by the fish) and move to deeper water or under cutbanks.
Fish act reluctant to move back onto spawning redds.
Spawning behavior stops. Fish may remain over redds but interactions between fish stop.

For Birds

Always View Any Nesting Species From a Distance.

Large masses of stick in the tops of tall, broken-topped tree along the coastline are often obvious nests made by bald eagles. You may spot other nests as well. Avoid nests and never handle eggs or young.

Do Not Handle "Lost" Baby Birds.

People often find young fledgling birds that have just left the nest. Do not move these birds - often they are near the nest and their parents know how to find them.

Leave Injured Birds Where You Find Them.

These birds seldom survive in captivity. If you find an injured raptor, contact the Humane Society (789-0260) in Juneau area or the Sitka Raptor Rehabilitation Center (747-8662) in Sitka. It is best to allow trained personnel to capture the bird to prevent further injury.

Use Binoculars to Avoid Disturbing Birds.

Be aware of the bird's behavior and watch for clues that you might be disturbing normal behavior.

SIGNS YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO BIRDS!

Repeated Flushing
Raised head, looking at observers
Skittishness
Excessive preening or pecking at dirt or foot, bill-wiping
Alarm calls, repeated chirping and chipping
"Broken wing" distraction display

For Mammals

Avoid Pursuing Animals For Photographs

Use telephoto lenses to photograph wildlife at a distance. Remember that those "prize-winning" photographs seen in magazines are often taken by professional photographers who spend thousands of dollars on specialized equipment and have had years of experience!

Be Especially Careful Around Females With Young.

Disturbing them can cause unnecessary expenditures of energy. Females are generally very protective of their young - getting too close can put you in a dangerous predicament.

Leave Injured Animals Where You Find Them.

Use Binoculars or Spotting Scopes to Get Those "Close-up" Views.

Learn the behavioral cues that you are disturbing behavior.

SIGNS YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO MAMMALS!

Head raised high, ears pointed in the direction of the ovserver.
Skittishness, the animal jumps at sounds or movements.
Animal moves away or lowers head with ears back in preparation for a charge, erect hairs on neck and shoulder.
Displays of aggressive or nervous behavior.

Updated March 16, 2001

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	In General Observe Animals From The Distance "They" consider Safe. Approach wild animals slowly and quietly. Avoid sudden movements. Avoid Using Tape-Recorded Calls Or Other Attraction Devices. Avoid Chasing Or Harassing Animals Under Any Circumstances. Harassing animals is against state law and punishable by a $1,000 fine and up six months in jail. Learn Wild Animals Signals That Tell You Are Too Close. This is your signal to sit or stand quietly or move slowly away. You may lose the chance for a prize-winning picture but gain the unique experience of viewing a wild animal behaving naturally, undisturbed by humans.
	For Fish Avoid Trampling a Streambank. If at all possible, view spawning salmon from the bank of a stream and avoid walking among the redds or kicking up silt upstream from the fish.
	SIGNS YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO FISH Fish abandon spawning redds (depressions in the streambed dug by the fish) and move to deeper water or under cutbanks. Fish act reluctant to move back onto spawning redds. Spawning behavior stops. Fish may remain over redds but interactions between fish stop.
	For Birds Always View Any Nesting Species From a Distance. Large masses of stick in the tops of tall, broken-topped tree along the coastline are often obvious nests made by bald eagles. You may spot other nests as well. Avoid nests and never handle eggs or young. Do Not Handle "Lost" Baby Birds. People often find young fledgling birds that have just left the nest. Do not move these birds - often they are near the nest and their parents know how to find them. Leave Injured Birds Where You Find Them. These birds seldom survive in captivity. If you find an injured raptor, contact the Humane Society (789-0260) in Juneau area or the Sitka Raptor Rehabilitation Center (747-8662) in Sitka. It is best to allow trained personnel to capture the bird to prevent further injury. Use Binoculars to Avoid Disturbing Birds. Be aware of the bird's behavior and watch for clues that you might be disturbing normal behavior.
	SIGNS YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO BIRDS! Repeated Flushing Raised head, looking at observers Skittishness Excessive preening or pecking at dirt or foot, bill-wiping Alarm calls, repeated chirping and chipping "Broken wing" distraction display
	For Mammals Avoid Pursuing Animals For Photographs Use telephoto lenses to photograph wildlife at a distance. Remember that those "prize-winning" photographs seen in magazines are often taken by professional photographers who spend thousands of dollars on specialized equipment and have had years of experience! Be Especially Careful Around Females With Young. Disturbing them can cause unnecessary expenditures of energy. Females are generally very protective of their young - getting too close can put you in a dangerous predicament. Leave Injured Animals Where You Find Them. Use Binoculars or Spotting Scopes to Get Those "Close-up" Views. Learn the behavioral cues that you are disturbing behavior.
	SIGNS YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO MAMMALS! Head raised high, ears pointed in the direction of the ovserver. Skittishness, the animal jumps at sounds or movements. Animal moves away or lowers head with ears back in preparation for a charge, erect hairs on neck and shoulder. Displays of aggressive or nervous behavior.