wildlife

A nesting pair of greater yellowlegs, in a Petersburg muskeg on June 6. (Courtesy Photo/ Becky Knight)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

 

The vivid colors of male bluebirds result from structural features in the feather barbs, and males with more vivid colors father more chicks, with their own mates or with other females. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Tree sparrows and bluebirds

By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire In the early part of April, there were sometimes two dozen mallards on my mostly icy home… Continue reading

 

This Sept. 2008 photo provided by the Center for Whale Research taken near Washington state’s San Juan Islands shows scientists looking for clues about the diet of the Pacific Northwest’s endangered orcas using a pool skimmer to collect the scales or other remains of salmon the whales had eaten. A long-term study published Wednesday, March 3, 2021, reaffirmed the importance of Chinook salmon to the whales even when they cruise the outer Pacific Coast, where the fish are harder to find. (Ken Balcomb / Center for Whale Research)

Study: Chinook salmon are key to Northwest orcas all year

That includes fish that spawn in California’s Sacramento River all the way to the Taku River.

 

A bald eagle found near Montana Creek Road on Dec. 22 had to be euthanized due to injuries, visible here, received from a lead shot fired from a shotgun. The Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward for information on the shooter. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center)

Authorities investigate fatal shooting of bald eagle

The otherwise healthy, adult bird had to be euthanized for its injuries.

A bald eagle found near Montana Creek Road on Dec. 22 had to be euthanized due to injuries, visible here, received from a lead shot fired from a shotgun. The Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward for information on the shooter. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center)
The Juneau Bear Committee will be identifying and tagging trash cans that lack bear-resistant characteristics with these stickers the week of Aug. 31. (Courtesy art / Juneau Police Department)

Juneau Bear Committee canvassing to tag inadequate trash cans

This year’s young bears are bold and plentiful.

The Juneau Bear Committee will be identifying and tagging trash cans that lack bear-resistant characteristics with these stickers the week of Aug. 31. (Courtesy art / Juneau Police Department)
In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an airplane flies over caribou from the Porcupine Caribou Herd on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska.The Department of the Interior has approved an oil and gas leasing program within Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is home to polar bears, caribou and other wildlife. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed the Record of Decision, which will determine where oil and gas leasing will take place in the refuge’s coastal plain. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
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US approves oil, gas leasing plan for Alaska Wildlife refuge

By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Trump administration gave final approval Monday for a contentious oil and gas leasing plan on the… Continue reading

In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an airplane flies over caribou from the Porcupine Caribou Herd on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska.The Department of the Interior has approved an oil and gas leasing program within Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is home to polar bears, caribou and other wildlife. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed the Record of Decision, which will determine where oil and gas leasing will take place in the refuge’s coastal plain. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
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Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. A lack of visitors to the area this year may have emboldened bears to explore surrounding areas, local experts said, although it’s hard to know for sure.

Are more bears wandering in residential areas? It’s hard to say

Less tourists and early-summer hunger could be pushing them into areas usually more crowded.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. A lack of visitors to the area this year may have emboldened bears to explore surrounding areas, local experts said, although it’s hard to know for sure.
A pair of bald eagles lay on the beach near Auke Bay after locking talons and falling from the sky on June 9, 2020, a somewhat common behavior. The Juneau Raptor Center has had an active spring, handling half a dozen calls about bald eagles in the last week and rescuing other birds as well. (Courtesy photo | Kevin Henderson)

It was a busy week for Juneau Raptor Center

Half a dozen bald eagles and other birds have needed help.

A pair of bald eagles lay on the beach near Auke Bay after locking talons and falling from the sky on June 9, 2020, a somewhat common behavior. The Juneau Raptor Center has had an active spring, handling half a dozen calls about bald eagles in the last week and rescuing other birds as well. (Courtesy photo | Kevin Henderson)
A black bear feeds on dandelions near Peterson Creek in this August 2018 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Be mindful of inquisitive ursine neighbors as weather warms

Bears are trash scavengers, particularly in lean years

A black bear feeds on dandelions near Peterson Creek in this August 2018 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
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)
A squirrel, not pictured here, temporarily knocked out power to fifteen customers near the governor’s mansion Monday morning. (Courtesy photo | Unsplash)

Squirrel temporarily knocks out power

Power was quickly restored, the squirrel was not.

A squirrel, not pictured here, temporarily knocked out power to fifteen customers near the governor’s mansion Monday morning. (Courtesy photo | Unsplash)
Juneau guides help film crew capture something never seen before on film: wolves catching salmon at night

Juneau guides help film crew capture something never seen before on film: wolves catching salmon at night

They found themselves sitting in the dark, surrounded by wolves.

Juneau guides help film crew capture something never seen before on film: wolves catching salmon at night
Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire Stephen Lewis, a researcher with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, gives a presentation on golden eagles in Alaska at University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday.

Scientists seek to learn more about Alaska’s golden eagles

Golden eagles are the most widespread eagle on Earth.

Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire Stephen Lewis, a researcher with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, gives a presentation on golden eagles in Alaska at University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday.
A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive and sent to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka after being struck by a car Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Police Department)

Immature eagle injured on Egan improving incrementally

Underweight eagle is on a high-protein diet.

A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive and sent to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka after being struck by a car Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Police Department)
A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive by the Juneau Raptor Center after being struck by a car Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Kathy Benner)

Rare raptor rescued from rainy roadside

Juneau’s not their ideal terrain.

A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive by the Juneau Raptor Center after being struck by a car Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Kathy Benner)
Second sighting of brown bear reported on Salmon Creek Trail

Second sighting of brown bear reported on Salmon Creek Trail

It’s the second sighting in four days.

Second sighting of brown bear reported on Salmon Creek Trail
Polar bears invade Russian town

Polar bears invade Russian town

Locals delighted but wary.

Polar bears invade Russian town
A beaver enjoys breakfast near the Mendenhall Glacier in late June 2017. (Courtesy Photo | Linda Shaw)

Talk gives insight into beaver activity

A free presentation this week gives a look into the busy world of beavers, and sheds light on how their activity affects everything around them.… Continue reading

A beaver enjoys breakfast near the Mendenhall Glacier in late June 2017. (Courtesy Photo | Linda Shaw)
Fishing gear downs seagull

Fishing gear downs seagull

A local bird rescue center is asking fishermen to be careful with their fishing gear after a seagull ingested a treble hook and died earlier… Continue reading

Fishing gear downs seagull
Buzz, chirp, squeak: How and why insects make sound

Buzz, chirp, squeak: How and why insects make sound

Back in the Midwest, in the summers I listened to cicadas calling and crickets chirping — sounds that don’t happen here in Southeast Alaska. We… Continue reading

Buzz, chirp, squeak: How and why insects make sound