Alaska Fish & Wildlife News
October 2026

A World of Waterfowl
Making the Field the Classrom

I can feel the heartbeat of a green-winged teal against my palm as I place a small, numbered metal band around her right leg. She weighs a little more than half a pound, but this tiny duck may travel thousands of miles this winter before returning to Alaska next spring. This teal hen, hatched this summer, now has a unique ID.

I am standing knee-deep in a pond in the middle of Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in Fairbanks on a World of Waterfowl Article Continued

Mammals and Mushrooms
How Alaska’s voles build forests with fungi

Many an Alaskan road-tripper has seen blackened hills from past wildfires scarring mountainsides and meadows, though these burned areas often host splashes of green shoots and young fireweed among the dead wood. Fire is one of the many disturbances that can clear land in Alaska, leaving bare ground open for young trees and sprouts to retake the land. But how do these new forests gain a foothold in the soil? Birds, animals, and wind spread seeds, while soil bacteria and invertebrates (like earthworms) ...   Mammals & Mushrooms Article Continued

Ask a biologist - Can a porcupine shoot quills?
No, but quills are remarkable “smart weapons”

This misconception is surprisingly widespread and, in some ways, it's understandable. People know some animals can project things. Skunks can deliver a nasty oily spray. Cobras can accurately spit venom a meter or two - aiming for the eyes and face. Porcupines are remarkably quick when threatened. They can spin on a dime, a useful talent when a predator is trying to bite your face. They keep that quill-laden backside and that muscular, formidable tail facing the threat. I've seen dogs ...   Porcupine quills Article Continued