Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
Birds arriving in Alaska for the breeding season may be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has caused illness and death in waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, and birds of prey and some mammals. Learn more, including steps hunters can take to reduce the risk of infection and how to report observations/concerns.
Alaska Peninsula Refuge presents a breathtakingly dramatic landscape made up of active volcanoes, towering mountain peaks, rolling tundra and rugged, wave-battered coastlines.
The Bristol Bay side of the Refuge consists primarily of tundra, lakes and wetlands. From these coastal lowlands, the land rises to steep glaciated mountains, forming the spine of the Refuge, and then plunges to steep cliffs and sandy beaches on the Pacific side. As is the case with most of Alaska's coastal refuges, salmon provide the principal nutrient “engine" for Alaska Peninsula, supporting the people and wildlife that depend on them. When the salmon are running, Ugashik Lakes and the streams that surround them attract brown bears in great numbers.
The Bristol Bay side of the Refuge consists primarily of tundra, lakes and wetlands. From these coastal lowlands, the land rises to steep glaciated mountains, forming the spine of the Refuge, and then plunges to steep cliffs and sandy beaches on the Pacific side. As is the case with most of Alaska's coastal refuges, salmon provide the principal nutrient “engine" for Alaska Peninsula, supporting the people and wildlife that depend on them. When the salmon are running, Ugashik Lakes and the streams that surround them attract brown bears in great numbers.
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Anchorage, Alaska—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it is seeking public comment on the agency’s first ever proposed Alaska Native Relations Policy.
Migratory Species
If you've ever felt the tug of a shimmery salmon at the end of your line or in your net, you probably know that the act of catching is just a small piece of something much bigger.
Wildlife Wonders
There are nearly 900 species of flower flies in North America, with roughly 200 species in Alaska (they’re also known as syrphid or “hover” flies). Adult flower flies feed on pollen and nectar. As they move from plant to plant, they serve as unintentional pollinators — pollen grains hitch a ride on...
Migratory Species
The Center for Disease Control believes that the public health risk from HPAI in North America is low. Alaska hunters should still exercise caution while hunting and eating migratory birds by following steps to reduce infection risk. Learn how to report observations/concerns in Alaska.
When it comes to being at home in Alaska’s winter landscape, caribou are pretty chill. Alaska has 32 distinct caribou herds in the state, and you have a chance of seeing these hooved critters in almost all of Alaska’s 16 National Wildlife Refuges.
Wildlife Wonders
Are you a fan of the annual Fat Bear Week competition in Alaska? The popular single-elimination-style bracket asks people to weigh in on favorite furry contenders during their final preparation for winter.
Alaska’s bears have just six months to eat a year’s worth of food, so they must work hard...
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The Refuge offers a variety of recreational opportunities including sport fishing and hunting, observing/photographing wildlife, hiking, backpacking, boating and camping. Refuge lands are remote and accessible only by small aircraft, boat, or rugged cross country hiking. There are no roads or maintained trails and help can be hours away if something goes wrong. Please prepare accordingly.