The majority of Alaska wildlife vacations are offered from May through September. The only exceptions are Northern Lights tours that hope to see the aurora borealis during March. There are also tailor-made Alaska tours to watch bears. Not just are spring, summer, and fall the times that Alaskan wildlife is at its most active and evident. However, the winter climate, which is located in the north, is often inhospitable, to be honest.
MONTH-BY-MONTH WILDLIFE IN ALASKA
The brown (grizzly) and bears in Alaska are emerging from hibernation during March, and are enjoying plenty of food. Clean skies make March among the perfect months to see Aurora borealis displays in Alaska as well. If you’re going on the Alaska wildlife cruise, then you’ll also have a great possibility of seeing marine animals like seals and walruses as the ice sheet is beginning to melt in the spring.
As spring approaches wildlife, it begins to make its way towards the north. Caribou are in the process of calving, as are other members of Alaska’s “Big Five’, which includes bears and Dall sheep and are often observed in the abundant green forest.
On the shore, gray whales can be seen cruising between Sitka and Kodiak in April. There are others not far behind orca whales are most likely to be seen off in the Kenai Peninsula around this time as well. May is an excellent month to observe birds as songbirds migrate to make an appearance as well as seabirds nesting in coastal regions.
June is a great time to travel to Alaska. The time is nearing peak bear season and right before the summer’s main season. Grizzlies are already visible all around Lake Clark and Kodiak Island in large numbers as the salmon-spawning season begins.
Bears are in full swing during July and are often observed on the Katmai coast hunting razor clams and mating. It is also the most popular month for observing grizzlies taking salmon mid-leap in Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. It’s also the whale-watching season, and you could see belugas, humpbacks, and humpbacks, among others.
The middle of summer in August is the hottest (16-17degC) and the wettest month in Alaska. The wildlife isn’t frightened by the rain for a second, however. There are moose rutting, and bears, who have an eye on the coming winter, are extremely active in their hunts to increase their size.
In September, Alaska’s short tourist season has already come to an end. However, the longer you stay the better in terms of bear watching goes, especially when you’re looking to capture them in the stunning autumnal foliage. September is another great month to view the Northern Lights. The whale-watching tours are coming to an end, and even though experienced crews know where they can be found, it is important to be well-prepared for the sun’s rays.
Alaska vacations in winter aren’t common; however, some tour operators might be in a position to benefit from custom-made itineraries. As the weather changes and food supplies are getting less plentiful, bears are beginning to hide in their caves in October and November.
They will not return until the spring. The exception, however, is polar bears, which do not hibernate and are able to be seen in northern Alaska, however significantly less than in summer.
December, January, and February are among the coldest and most miserable winter months in Alaska. For Denali National Park, temperatures can drop to 24 degrees Celsius, which is pretty chilly!
