Alaska Outdoors

Afternoon delight at Eagle Bach overlooking the Chilkat Mountains.

Wild Shots

Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or plant life. Send your photos to: Outdoors… Continue reading

Afternoon delight at Eagle Bach overlooking the Chilkat Mountains.

Parasitic rhizocephalan barnacles

There are many species of parasitic barnacles, distributed around the world. The rhizocephalans parasitize crabs; they are sometimes found on king crabs in our area.A… Continue reading

Acorn and gooseneck barnacles

There are hundreds of species of barnacle and they do some very peculiar things (from our perspective). The larvae swim freely, but when they are… Continue reading

A male tanner crab has grabbed a smaller female in preparation for mating.

Crab grab

Female tanner crabs, particularly those that have mated in previous years, commonly gather in huge groups, at a density of over 100 females per square… Continue reading

A male tanner crab has grabbed a smaller female in preparation for mating.
Rufus nudibranchs in a mating group, starting to lay eggs.

Nudibranch orgies

Nudibranchs are shell-less-molluscs. Mostly carnivorous, they come in a variety of colors and forms. Many of them have ‘cerata’ on their backs; these are horn-like,… Continue reading

Rufus nudibranchs in a mating group, starting to lay eggs.
A female giant Pacific octopus tends eggs in her den.

Giant Pacific octopus

Individuals of this species often reach a body weight of 100 pounds or more, but in the Gulf of Alaska, adults have an average weight… Continue reading

A female giant Pacific octopus tends eggs in her den.

Sunflower sea stars

This large sea star is not as stiff and rigid as other species and comes in various colors. It lives from the low intertidal zone… Continue reading

A female parasitic isopod makes a lump on the side of this shrimp

Parasitic bopyrid isopods

Isopods (or sowbugs or pillbugs) are crustaceans; some live independently and others are parasitic. When a bopyrid egg hatches, the sexually undifferentiated (neither male nor… Continue reading

A female parasitic isopod makes a lump on the side of this shrimp
Leggy oak leaf lettuce.

Dirt Girl: Starting starts

My neighbor greeted me the other day with a question: “Do you have any plants started?” I shrugged my shoulders to answer her obvious question.… Continue reading

Leggy oak leaf lettuce.

Sex and the sea

Marine invertebrates exhibit a dazzling array of interesting ways of sexual reproduction, some of which is shown here.Thanks to Aaron Baldwin (Alaska Department of Fish… Continue reading

The early robin gets the worm in Evergreen Cemetery.

Wild Shots

Submit your wild shots: The Empire Outdoors page is looking for superb images of Alaska’s wildlife, scenery or plant life. Send your photos to: Outdoors… Continue reading

The early robin gets the worm in Evergreen Cemetery.
Pictured is an intertidal margerite snail with its eggs, all encased in a jelly-like coat.

On the Trails: Odds and ends

Here are a few recent observations from late February and early March, plus a very cool thing I’ve only read about. So here goes ...As… Continue reading

Pictured is an intertidal margerite snail with its eggs, all encased in a jelly-like coat.

In Sitka, predators arrive but herring don’t

SITKA — State Fish and Game biologists saw plenty of predators but no herring Friday in an aerial survey of Sitka Sound.“No herring or herring… Continue reading

A mountain stream both Nick Rutecki and Logan Miller swam in while hiking the Appalachian Trail. (Photo by Logan Miller)

Walkers in the woods

Editor’s note: This is part one of a continuing series about Logan Miller and Nick Rutecki, both of Juneau, as they hike the United States.… Continue reading

A mountain stream both Nick Rutecki and Logan Miller swam in while hiking the Appalachian Trail. (Photo by Logan Miller)
NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the Yukon River flood from 443 miles overhead on May 28, 2013. Image courtesy of NASA.

Alaska Science Forum: Broken ice causes the worst spring breakup floods

For half the year, Alaska’s big rivers provide a somewhat flat surface, allowing travel by snowmachine, dog team, ski, bike, snowshoe and foot. For a… Continue reading

NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of the Yukon River flood from 443 miles overhead on May 28, 2013. Image courtesy of NASA.

Saddle Lakes Project record of decision signed

The record of cecision for the Saddle Lakes Project on the Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District was signed March 14. This decision authorizes a right-of-way, about… Continue reading

Juneau Public Libraries and Goldtown Theater participate in Science on Screen

The Juneau Public Libraries and the Goldtown Nickelodeon Theater will take part in the second annual National Evening of Science on Screen on Tuesday, March… Continue reading

Raincountry Flyfishers meeting

Raincountry Flyfishers will hold a “Tie & Lie” get together in the Thunder Mountain High School library at 7p.m. March 23. Those in attendance will… Continue reading

The difference between state and federal waterfowl stamps

The Division of Wildlife Conservation in a news release reminded Alaskans that the federal amendments made last year to the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation… Continue reading

Forest Service extends comment period for project plan

The Tongass National Forest is extending the comment period to give the public additional time to comment on new outfitter and guide allocations. The Tongass… Continue reading