Alaska Outdoors

Common murres swim in Auke Bay in December. Juneau birders found 159 common murres on their annual count day. The birds have recently been showing up in interior Alaska, some underweight.

On land: Juneau’s 43rd annual Christmas bird counters listen, look, count

One year, while on vacation, my partner Bjorn and I went snorkeling and marveled at the life in the world beneath us – there’s a… Continue reading

Common murres swim in Auke Bay in December. Juneau birders found 159 common murres on their annual count day. The birds have recently been showing up in interior Alaska, some underweight.

A snowy day at Eagle Beach

A lovely day in late December found friends and I at Eagle Beach State Park with lots of options for exploration. The main trail was… Continue reading

Birds and beasts of Belize

Ann and Alan Doty will present their photos of “The Birds and Beasts of Belize” at the Juneau Audubon Society’s meeting Jan. 14, 7 p.m.… Continue reading

U.S. Forest Service warns Mendenhall Lake is never safe

Here are some reminders and tips on ice safety from the U.S. Forest Service:Mendenhall Lake ice is never safe. The thickness is not measured or… Continue reading

CCFR to host ice safety workshop Saturday

Capital City Fire and Rescue will host an ice safety workshop Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, from 1:30 - 3 p.m.… Continue reading

Fishery spending analyzed

KENAI - Most of the benefit from the commercial fishing industry goes to local government, while the state overspends itself, according to a new analysis.A… Continue reading

In this undated photo, an Alexander Archipelago wolf is shown on Prince of Wales Island. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that while the number of Alexander Archipelago wolves is dropping on Prince of Wales Island, wolf populations are stable elsewhere in Southeast Alaska and rising in British Columbia.

FWS: Alexander Archipelago wolf not endangered

The Alexander Archipelago wolf is not endangered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday.In a 94-page analysis, staff of the Anchorage office of U.S.… Continue reading

In this undated photo, an Alexander Archipelago wolf is shown on Prince of Wales Island. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that while the number of Alexander Archipelago wolves is dropping on Prince of Wales Island, wolf populations are stable elsewhere in Southeast Alaska and rising in British Columbia.
A wolf's track melts the frosty snow, revealing old evergreen needles on the Crow Hill Trail on Dec. 16.

Wild Shots

The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or plant life. Send your photos via email to outdoors@juneauempire.com. For all… Continue reading

A wolf's track melts the frosty snow, revealing old evergreen needles on the Crow Hill Trail on Dec. 16.

Forecast could mean early fishing for Stikine River kings

PETERSBURG — The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is predicting a return of about 34,000 king salmon to the Stikine River next year in… Continue reading

Chris Hinkley takes advantage of high winds from the north to surf off Lena Beach on Feb. 5.

Outdoors year in review

2015 was another great year to be hiking, boating and in general being in Southeast Alaska (well… aren’t they all?) But as we looked through… Continue reading

Chris Hinkley takes advantage of high winds from the north to surf off Lena Beach on Feb. 5.
A young porcupine sits in an elderberry bush, whose broken twigs indicate the source of recent snacks.

Rambling in winter

The short December days don’t allow for long explorations, but even short ones can be productive for a curious naturalist.I took a little stroll on… Continue reading

A young porcupine sits in an elderberry bush, whose broken twigs indicate the source of recent snacks.

The world’s largest ski and snowboarding lesson coming to Eaglecrest

During Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month in January, Eaglecrest Ski Area will participate in a nationwide Guinness World Record Attempt for the World’s Largest… Continue reading

User conflicts over halibut, salmon on horizon for 2016

The year about to end saw the beginnings of some fisheries regulations and legal battles that will either resolve or present further issues in 2016.Halibut… Continue reading

Mike Erickson, president of Alaska Glacier Seafoods, raised more than $7,000 for Cancer Connection in Juneau on his bike this summer. Twenty-nine fishermen and fishing families, and AGS, pledged money for each mile he biked.

Seafood buyer cycles to help those fighting cancer

Alaska Glacier Seafoods president Mike Erickson fought cancer six years ago. In 2015, he turned his work commute into a way to help other Southeast… Continue reading

Mike Erickson, president of Alaska Glacier Seafoods, raised more than $7,000 for Cancer Connection in Juneau on his bike this summer. Twenty-nine fishermen and fishing families, and AGS, pledged money for each mile he biked.
An adult dipper brings prey to begging chicks. Both male and female busily tend the chicks.

Parental care by males (birds and mammals)

This essay will consider male parental care in birds and mammals. Both birds and mammals evolved from reptiles, and some ancient reptiles did have parental… Continue reading

An adult dipper brings prey to begging chicks. Both male and female busily tend the chicks.

The birches’ last blaze

Walter Harper, one of Alaska’s greatest, is buried in Juneau’s Evergreen Cemetery. His wife, Frances Wells Harper, lies beside him. They’d been married for less… Continue reading

Mackey, Derk, Union lakes northern pike-free

Ice fishermen in East and West Mackey lakes, Derks Lake and Union Lake will be limited to two closely attended lines this winter.The Alaska Department… Continue reading

Environmental assessment for Treadwell Ditch Trail

The Juneau Ranger District is moving forward with planning for the Treadwell Ditch Trail Bridges Construction project.The District proposes to replace 38 bridges, perform some… Continue reading

Eaglecrest to open full mountain

Eaglecrest Ski Area is opening the entire mountain Saturday, Dec. 19 and will remain open daily until Jan. 4 with the exception of Dec. 25.… Continue reading

Council tightens Southcentral charter halibut allocation for 2016

The ratchet keeps tightening on Southcentral halibut charter operations, among other groups, and relief measures are still stuck in development.The level of legally harvestable halibut… Continue reading