Alaska Fish & Wildlife News
June 2025

Wolves with too much in common
Island wolves breed with close relatives

By Abby McAllister

Few wolves are swimming to Prince of Wales Island from other islands or the mainland. New research found this wolf population on Prince of Wales Island (POW), at the southern end of the Southeast Alaska Panhandle, has limited genetic connectivity with neighboring populations and has high levels of inbreeding.

These results come from a research project that collected genetic data — samples of muscle tissue — from wolves across the archipelago from 2002-2016. Out of the samples ...   Island wolves Article Continued

Biking with Wildlife
Moose and bear encounters on the trails

By Marian Snively

I have been biking in Anchorage for 35 years. In the early nineties I trained for the Wednesday Night Bike Racing Series at Kincaid Park. To truly date myself, fat-tire bikes, front fork suspension, and electronic bikes were not invented yet. I’m originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and had never seen a moose or bear while riding a bike until I moved to Alaska. The first time I rode on the Coastal Trail in Anchorage in 1990 was the first time I saw a moose. I was doing what most ...   Biking with Wildlife Article Continued

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival
Highlights from a first-time festival goer

By Arin Underwood

I was born and raised in Alaska, graduated from UAA, and have worked with birds since my first volunteer stint at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center when I was 17. So how on Earth had I never been to any of the Alaska bird festivals? 2025 was the year I was going to make it! I cajoled my archaeologist friends Kaitlyn and Justin to join me on my adventure, and we put registration opening day on our calendars.

Registration

Friday in March found me sitting at a communal computer ...   Kachemak Bay Fest Article Continued