Alaska is a beautiful place not only for its glaciers and natural landscapes but also for its wildlife. Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, is a beautiful location where nature lovers can go to see whales in the ocean, eagles in the sky, and mountain goats and bears on the land. Although this place is a large town, it is very much influenced by the natural world and will make any visitor feel one with nature. 

For me, the most alluring thing about Juneau is the proximity of the wildlife and the vast array of animals that are able to be seen. One thing that this city prides itself on is that there is more wildlife in the area than there are humans!

There is a huge tourism industry based on whale-watching. From the beginning of May to the end of September, any whale-watching trip practically guarantees a whale sighting. By going on a boat, you can see humpback whales, orcas, Dall’s porpoises, harbor porpoises, sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and beavers!!! Whale-watching is an amazing opportunity to see wildlife that is so foreign and different from us. These animals are some of the largest in the world and yet we only get the chance to see them very few times in our lives.

Other than whale-watching, there is also plenty of other wildlife in the Juneau area! Right outside of the city and in The Kootznoowoo Wilderness Area, meaning “Fortress of the Bears”, is home to so many black bears. The best time to see them is during the salmon run in the months of July and August. Juneau and Southeast Alaska are also home to roughly 20,000 bald eagles, making sighting a common occurrence while visiting. In order to see all of the best places around Juneau, here is a list of the best viewing spots for wildlife in Juneau: https://www.alaska.org/destination/juneau/wildlife-viewing

Juneau, as well as much of Alaska, has a lot of protected land and regulations for wildlife management. While visiting, not only would it be interesting to see how they integrate sustainable management in their everyday practices, but also to see the value that they put on nature and wildlife. The commitment to the environment shows tourists how to be socially responsible and take care of the ecosystems around us.

Here is more information on conservation efforts from the US Fish and Wildlife Service – Alaska region: https://www.fws.gov/alaska/pages/locations/juneau-satellite-office