The Anan Wildlife Observatory is run by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Tongass National Forest on mainland Alaska just across the bay from the south end of Wrangell Island. It is only reachable by boat or float plane and involves a half-mile walk inland from Anan Bay. The observatory is surrounded by a gated fence with an observation platform and photo blind right next to the falls on Anan Creek which has the largest salmon run in southeast Alaska. We got there by a float plane from Ketchikan which is about a 30 or 40 minute flight each way. The observatory is limited to 60 people each day. We saw lots of black bears, including several with cubs. We saw salmon jumping in the creek and the bears trying to catch them, sometimes successfully. We were there two hours and saw bears much of the time we were there. We also saw bald eagles, mature and immature, at the observatory and on the walk out. By far my best photos of black bears and a great way to see how the live in a relatively natural state.

Posted on July 28, 2022 01:36 AM by rwcannon57