Alaska Outdoors

There’s widespread deception in the natural world

Deliberate deceitfulness is well-known among animals that cache food and others.

Riley the wolf on the Denali Park Road with one of her packmates in 2017. (Courtesy Photo | National Park Service)

Life of Riley reaches its end

She was a tough wolf until the end.

Riley the wolf on the Denali Park Road with one of her packmates in 2017. (Courtesy Photo | National Park Service)
Complaining about a lost fish or low water in times like these is evidence that you probably have it better than most and should act accordingly. (Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire)

Steelhead fishing in the time of Covid-19

Being healthy and employed makes me treasure simple pleasures like a lost fish.

Complaining about a lost fish or low water in times like these is evidence that you probably have it better than most and should act accordingly. (Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire)

Seeing what we can’t: How vertebrates use ultraviolet vision

Fish, birds and some mammals use UV.

Courtesy Photo | Ken Hill,National Park Service A National Park Service climate-observing station in Howard Pass records some of Alaska’s most extreme weather. Howard Pass is a broad crossing of the Brooks Range between Alaska’s North Slope and the Noatak River drainage.

It both is and isn’t a real low point.

Howard Pass, a rock-stubbled tundra plateau in the western Brooks Range, is one of the lowest points in the mountains that arc across northern Alaska.… Continue reading

Courtesy Photo | Ken Hill,National Park Service A National Park Service climate-observing station in Howard Pass records some of Alaska’s most extreme weather. Howard Pass is a broad crossing of the Brooks Range between Alaska’s North Slope and the Noatak River drainage.

Visions of community in a time of crisis

As Alaskans, we indeed know how to support one another.

The domino effect is on display at Eaglecrest Ski Area on April 1. (Courtesy Photo | Denise Carroll).

Spring or winter? Mother Nature sends mixed signals

“Winter came back with a vengeance. Oh woe!”

The domino effect is on display at Eaglecrest Ski Area on April 1. (Courtesy Photo | Denise Carroll).

Lessons from dusty, stinky bones

Gagging in the name of science.

In this February photo, a moose munches on a tree in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska wildlife officials have a message for residents: Please don’t feed the moose. State Fish and Game officials said Wednesday, April 1, 2020, they’ve seen an uptick in people feeding moose such foods as carrots and apples after a heavy snow season that left many of animals thin and nutritionally vulnerable. Plus, intentionally feeding moose is illegal, and can result in a misdemeanor violation of state game feeding laws. Unintentional feeding can result in a $300 ticket from Alaska Wildlife Troopers. (AP Photo | Mark Thiessen, File)

Alaska officials to residents: Don’t feed the moose

State officials said they’ve seen an uptick in people feeding moose carrots and apples.

In this February photo, a moose munches on a tree in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska wildlife officials have a message for residents: Please don’t feed the moose. State Fish and Game officials said Wednesday, April 1, 2020, they’ve seen an uptick in people feeding moose such foods as carrots and apples after a heavy snow season that left many of animals thin and nutritionally vulnerable. Plus, intentionally feeding moose is illegal, and can result in a misdemeanor violation of state game feeding laws. Unintentional feeding can result in a $300 ticket from Alaska Wildlife Troopers. (AP Photo | Mark Thiessen, File)
Jeff Lund is nearly finished with his two weeks in quarantine after a week fly fishing with old friends on Northern California Rivers. (Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire)

Sanctuary of stress: Finding relief in unplugging at home

Tie rather than scroll. Read paper, not screens.

Jeff Lund is nearly finished with his two weeks in quarantine after a week fly fishing with old friends on Northern California Rivers. (Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Moose have been part of both successful and unsuccessful population transplant attempts in Alaska. Moose have been part of both successful and unsuccessful population transplant attempts in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Transplanting mammals in Southeast

There have been successes and failures.

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Moose have been part of both successful and unsuccessful population transplant attempts in Alaska. Moose have been part of both successful and unsuccessful population transplant attempts in Alaska. (Courtesy Photo | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Southeast Alaska Conservation Council holds Women’s History Month tele-town hall

RSVP online to participate.

A male red fox returns to a den with a snowshoe hare. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)

The secret life of a red fox family

Focusing on fox kits, not test kits.

A male red fox returns to a den with a snowshoe hare. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)
Salmonberries hang fat from a bush on a recent summer. (Courtesy Photo | Mary Catharine Martin)

Alaskan solace on a recent hike

Even if we are quarantined and we can only see spring arrive from our window.

Salmonberries hang fat from a bush on a recent summer. (Courtesy Photo | Mary Catharine Martin)
Marten, similar to the one in this photo, are one of nine species of weasel native to Alaska. Marten and fisher are particularly associated with forests. (Courtesy Photo | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Weaseling out: Learn more about forest creatures

The weasel family is well-represented in Alaska.

Marten, similar to the one in this photo, are one of nine species of weasel native to Alaska. Marten and fisher are particularly associated with forests. (Courtesy Photo | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Courtesy Photo | Kerry Howard A short-eared owl perches on a snowy limb. The owls can sometimes be spotted near the Juneau International Airport. They hunt both during the day and at night.

A walk near the airport leads to a rare owl sighting

“I was hoping for something out of the ordinary — and I got lucky.”

Courtesy Photo | Kerry Howard A short-eared owl perches on a snowy limb. The owls can sometimes be spotted near the Juneau International Airport. They hunt both during the day and at night.
Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire Upon arriving in California, Jeff Lund immediately drove to the isolated reaches of the Upper Sacramento to practice social distancing and to find some trout.

Coping with Covid-19

“When your release reminds you of how bad things are, it’s not a release.”

Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire Upon arriving in California, Jeff Lund immediately drove to the isolated reaches of the Upper Sacramento to practice social distancing and to find some trout.
This willow ptarmigan is just resting, in between snacks of buds. (Courtesy Photo | Bob Armstrong)

Finding fun and feathered friends in February

The prize observation came from Eaglecrest.

This willow ptarmigan is just resting, in between snacks of buds. (Courtesy Photo | Bob Armstrong)
The Yukon River, shown here at the Fortymile River’s junction with it in Canada, roughly follows the Tintina Fault. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)

‘Remarkable groove’ slides gold into Alaska

Groove isn’t just in the heart.

The Yukon River, shown here at the Fortymile River’s junction with it in Canada, roughly follows the Tintina Fault. (Courtesy Photo | Ned Rozell)

Sustainable Soundscapes: Places may look the same, but their sounds are changing

Listening closely to this planet’s sounds can tell us a lot about where we are, and where we’re going.