Denby S. Lloyd, Commissioner
Division of Wildlife Conservation
Doug Larsen, Director
Tim Barry, ADF&G Communications Director
P.O. Box115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811
Phone: (907) 465-6137 • Fax: (907) 465-2332
Press Release: No. 08-04, January 14, 2008
Contact: Joe Meehan, Wildlife Biologist, (907) 267-2281
Wildlife Viewing Permits Now Available for McNeil River and Walrus Islands Sanctuaries
(ANCHORAGE) - Now that we have entered the New Year and summer is on the horizon, this is the time to apply for permits to visit two of Alaska’s premier wildlife viewing destinations. It’s as easy as a click of the button to access the on-line wildlife viewing permit applications for the McNeil River and Walrus Islands state game sanctuaries at www.wildlife.alaska.gov, through the “Refuges and Sanctuaries” link.
“The permit application period for both areas is now open” said Joe Meehan, Lands and Refuges Program Coordinator with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game “but the opportunity to view the world’s largest concentration of brown bears at McNeil River in 2008 will be closing soon.”
Applications to view brown bears at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary must be received online or by mail by March 1. There is a non-refundable application fee of $25 per person and up to three people may apply on each application. Applicants are entered into a lottery and if drawn, pay a $150 permit fee for Alaska residents and $350 for non-residents.
Applications to visit Round Island, within the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary, and view North American’s largest Pacific walrus haulout, are now available and require a permit fee of $50 per person. Permits are issued as applications are received on a first-come, first-served basis.
Doug Hill (manager of the McNeil River sanctuary) and Diane Okonek (manager of the Walrus Islands sanctuary) encourage Alaska’s residents and visitors to take advantage of our own world-class wildlife viewing destinations.
Applications and additional permit information may be found at the ADF&G web site at www.wildlife.alaska.gov or by calling (907) 267-2182.
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