Home Destinations USA Alaska Flora and Fauna

Flora and Fauna

Alaska is home to a diverse community of animals and plants. Including marine species, more than 100 types of mammals inhabit the state, along with almost 500 species of birds (the great majority seasonal migrants), and nearly 430 species of fresh- and saltwater fish. The state's ecosystems also include more than 1,500 plants. What follows is a mix of notable animals and plants that you may glimpse during your wanderings.

Fauna

Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii): These yellowish brown, gray-flecked rodents are among Alaska's most common and widespread mammals. Ground squirrels are known for their loud, persistent chatter. They may often be seen standing above their tundra den sites, watching for grizzlies, golden eagles, and weasels.

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea): These are the world's long-distance flying champs; some members of their species make annual migratory flights between the high Arctic and the Antarctic. Sleekly beautiful, the bird has a black cap and striking blood-red bill and feet. They often can be seen looking for small fish in ponds and coastal marshes.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus): With a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet, these grand Alaska residents are primarily fish eaters, but they will also take birds or small mammals when the opportunity presents itself. The world's largest gathering of bald eagles occurs in Southeast Alaska each winter, along the Chilkat River near Haines.

Beaver (Castor canadensis): The largest of North America's rodents, beavers can measure up to 4 feet and weigh 60 pounds. Though slow on land, they are excellent swimmers; they signal danger by slapping their flat tails against the water.

Beluga Whale (Dephinapterus leucas): Belugas are gray at birth, bluish gray as adolescents, and white as adults (the word byelukha is Russian for "white"). Though they seem to favor fish, belugas' diet includes more than 100 different species, from crabs to squid. They live along much of the coast, from the Beaufort Sea to the Gulf of Alaska.

Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus): This songbird is one of Alaska's most common residents. As with two close relatives, the chestnut-backed and boreal chickadees, the black-cap gets through the winters by lowering its body temperature at night and shivering through the long hours of darkness.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis): To many Alaskans, the honking of newly returned Canada geese is a sure sign that winter is giving way to spring. Their black heads and necks, white cheeks, and brown bodies are a familiar sight from the southern tip of the Panhandle to the Arctic's coastal plains. Six different subspecies make Alaska their summertime home.

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus): Sometimes called the "nomads of the north," caribou are long-distance wandering mammals. They are also the most abundant of the state's large mammals; in fact, there are more caribou in Alaska than people! The Western Arctic Caribou Herd alone numbers more than 400,000 members, while the Porcupine Caribou Herd has ranged between 120,000 and 180,000 over the past decades. Another bit of caribou trivia: they are the only members of the deer family in which both sexes grow antlers. Those of bulls may grow up to 5½ feet long with a span of up to 3 feet.

Common Loon (Gavia immer): Some sounds seem to be the essence of wilderness: the howl of the wolf, the hooting of the owl, and the cry of the loon. The common loon is one of five Gavia species to inhabit Alaska (the others are the Arctic, Pacific, red-throated, and yellow-billed). Common loons are primarily fish eaters. Excellent swimmers, they are able to stay submerged for up to three minutes.

Common Raven (Corvus corax): A popular character in Alaska native stories, the raven in traditional indigenous culture is both creator and trickster. Entirely black, with a wedge-shape tail and a heavy bill that helps distinguish it from crows, the raven is Alaska's most widespread avian resident.

Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea): Even tinier than the chickadee, the common redpoll along with its close cousin, the hoary redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni), are among the few birds to inhabit Alaska's Interior year-round. Though it looks a bit like a sparrow, this red-capped, black-bibbed songbird is a member of the finch family.

Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli dalli): One of four wild sheep to inhabit North America, the white Dall is the only one to reside within Alaska. Residents of high alpine areas, the sheep live in mountain chains from the St. Elias Range to the Brooks Range. Though both sexes grow horns, those of females are short spikes, while males grow grand curls that are "status symbols" displayed during mating season.

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma): This sleek, flashy fish inhabits lakes and streams throughout Alaska's coastal regions. A member of the char family, it was named after a character in Charles Dickens' novel Barnaby Rudge because the brightly colored spots on its sides resemble Miss Dolly Varden's pink-spotted dress and hat. Some members of the species remain in freshwater all their life, while sea-run dollies may live in the ocean for two to five years before returning to spawn.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens): The downy is both the smallest and most widespread of Alaska's six species of woodpecker. It has an unmarked white back and a black-and-white striped head; males have red patches on the backs of their heads. The downy is highly specialized for climbing trees and digging out wood-boring insects. The bird's hard, straight, chisel-like bill is also used for territorial "drumming" during mating season.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos): With a wingspan of up to 7½ feet, this inland bird can often be spotted spiraling high in the sky, riding thermals. The bird usually nests on cliff faces and feeds upon small mammals and ptarmigan. The plumage of adult birds is entirely dark, except for a golden head. These migratory eagles spend their winters as far away as Kansas and New Mexico.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus): The best known of Alaska's several species of owls, and one whose call is a familiar one here. It is a large owl with prominent ear tufts and a white throat with barred markings. Residing in forests from Southeast Alaska to the Interior, it preys on squirrels, hares, grouse, and other birds.

Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina): Inhabiting shallow marine waters and estuaries along much of Alaska's southern coast, harbor seals may survive up to 30 years in the wild, on a diet of fish, squid, octopus, and shrimp. They, in turn, may be eaten or killed by Orcas, sea lions, or humans. Solitary in the water, harbor seals love company on land, and will gather in large colonies. They weigh up to 250 pounds and range in color from black to white.

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus): Some Alaskans argue that there is no northern song more beautiful than the flutelike warbling of the hermit thrush and its close relative, the Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus). The two birds are difficult to tell apart, except for their songs, the hermit's reddish brown tail, and the color of their eye rings. Among the many songbird migrants to visit Alaska each spring, they begin singing in May while seeking mates and defending territories in forested regions of southern and central Alaska.

Horned Puffin (H, Fratercula corniculata): Named for the black, fleshy projections above each eye, horned puffins are favorites among birders. Included in the group of diving seabirds known as alcids, puffins spend most of their life on water, coming to land only for nesting. They are expert swimmers, using their wings to "fly" underwater and their webbed feet as rudders. Horned puffins have large orange-red and yellow bills. A close relative, the tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), is named for its yellow ear tufts.

Lynx (Lynx canadensis): The lynx is the only wild cat to inhabit Alaska. It's a secretive animal that depends on stealth and quickness. It may kill birds, squirrels, and mice, but the cat's primary prey is the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), particularly in winter; its population numbers closely follow those of the hare's boom-bust cycles. Large feet and a light body help the lynx run through deep snowpack.

Mew Gull (Larus canus): This common gull is named for the loud "mewing" cry it makes, especially when on nesting grounds. A medium-sized gull, it is the most widely distributed of its species. During the breeding season it can be found in abundance everywhere but Alaska's far north. It also inhabits the state's southernmost coastal regions in winter.

Moose (Alces alces gigas): The moose is the largest member of the deer family, the largest bulls standing 7 feet tall at the shoulders and weighing up to 1,600 pounds. The peak of breeding occurs in late September. Females give birth to calves in late May and early June; twins is the norm. Bulls enter the rut in September, with the most dominant engaging in brutal fights. Though most commonly residents of woodlands, some moose live in or just outside Alaska's cities.

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus): Sometimes confused with Dall sheep, mountain goats inhabit Alaska's coastal mountains. As adults, both males and females have sharp-pointed horns that are short and black (sheep have buff-colored horns). They also have massive chests and comparatively small hindquarters, plus bearded chins.

Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatus): The musk ox is considered an Ice Age relic that survived into the present at least partly because of a defensive tactic: they stand side by side and form rings to fend off predators such as grizzlies and wolves. Unfortunately for the species, that tactic didn't work very well against humans armed with guns. Alaska's last native musk oxen were killed in 1865. Musk oxen from Greenland were reintroduced here in 1930; they now reside on Nunivak Island. The animal's most notable physical feature is its long guard hairs, which form "skirts" that nearly reach the ground. Inupiats called the musk ox oomingmak, meaning "bearded one." Beneath those coarser hairs is fine underfur called qiviut, which can be woven into warm clothing.

Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis): The halibut is the largest of the flatfish to inhabit Alaska's coastal waters, with females weighing up to 500 pounds. Long-lived "grandmother" halibut may survive 40 years or more, producing millions of eggs each year. Bottom dwellers that feed on fish, crabs, clams, and squid, they range from the Panhandle to Norton Sound. Young halibut generally stay near shore, but older fish have been found at depths of 3,600 feet.

Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus): Five species of Pacific salmon spawn in Alaska's waters, including the king, silver, sockeye, pink, and chum. Hundreds of millions of salmon return to the state's streams and lakes each summer and fall, after spending much of their lives in saltwater. They form the backbone of Alaska's fishing industry and draw sportfishers from around the world.

Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri): A favorite of anglers, the rainbow trout inhabits streams and lakes in Alaska's coastal regions. The Bristol Bay region is best known for large 'bows, perhaps because of its huge returns of salmon. Rainbows feed heavily on salmon eggs as well as the deteriorating flesh of spawned-out salmon. Sea-run rainbows, or steelhead, grow even larger after years spent feeding in ocean waters. The state record for steelhead/rainbow trout is 42 pounds, 3 ounces.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes): Though it's called the red fox, this species actually has four color phases: red, silver, black, and cross (with a cross pattern on the back and shoulders). An able hunter, the red fox preys primarily on voles and mice, but will also eat hares, squirrels, birds, insects, and berries.

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis): The sandhill's call has been described as "something between a French horn and a squeaky barn door." Though others may dispute that description, few would disagree that the crane's calls have a prehistoric feeling. And, in fact, scientists say the species has changed little in the 9 million years since its earliest recorded fossils. Sandhills are the tallest birds to inhabit Alaska; their wingspan reaches up to 7 feet. The gray plumage of adults is set off by a bright red crown. Like geese, they fly in Vs during migratory journeys.

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris): Sea otters don't depend on blubber to stay warm. Instead, hair trapped in their dense fur keeps their skin dry. Beneath their outer hairs, the underfur ranges in density from 170,000 to one million hairs per square inch. Not surprisingly, the otter takes good care of its coat, spending much of every day grooming. Otters also spend a lot of time eating. In one study, researchers found that adult otters consumed 14 crabs a day, equaling about one-fourth of their body weight.

Short-tailed Weasel (Mustela erminea): Voracious hunters, these weasels feed on mice, voles, hares, birds, and insects; they may eat up to one-half their body weight each day. In summer, the coat is brown, with a creamy white underside; in winter, the entire coat is white, except for the year-round black-tipped tail. Up to 16 inches long, this weasel weighs only 6 to 8 oz, but it can take down prey weighing 10 times that much.

Sitka Blacktailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis): The Panhandle's rain forest is the primary home of this deer, though it has been transplanted to Prince William Sound and Kodiak. Dark gray in winter, and reddish brown in summer, it's stockier than the whitetails found in the Lower 48. The deer stay at lower elevations during the snowy months of winter, then move up to alpine meadows in summer.

Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca): Inhabiting the open coastal tundra, the snowy owl is found from the western Aleutian Islands to the Arctic. Adults are largely white (though females have scattered light brown spots) though immature birds are heavily marked with brown. Their numbers rise and fall with swings in the population of lemmings, their primary prey. Rather than hoots, the snowy emits loud croaks and whistles.

Steller's Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus): Its ability—and tendency—to roar is what gives the sea lion its name. Because they can rotate their rear flippers and lift their bellies off the ground, sea lions can get around on land much more easily than seals can. They are also much larger, the males reaching up to 9 feet and weighing up to 1,500 pounds. They feed primarily on fish, but will also eat sea otters and seals. They have been designated an endangered species because their populations north of the Panhandle have suffered huge declines.

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator): The trumpeter is the largest member of the waterfowl family, with males averaging 28 pounds and females 22 pounds. Named for their trumpeting call, these birds have white-feathered bodies as adults, though their young (called cygnets) are gray. The trumpeter is distinguished from the tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus) by its black bill, which has a pink area where the upper and lower mandibles meet. The tundra's bill usually has a bright yellow spot just in front of the eye.

Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus): The walrus's ivory tusks can be dangerous weapons; there are stories of walruses killing polar bears when attacked. Weighing up to 2 tons, the walrus's primary food includes clams, mussels, snails, crabs, and shrimp.

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus): One of three species of ptarmigan (the others are the rock and the white-tailed), the willow is the most widespread. It is also Alaska's state bird. It tends to live in willow thickets, where it feeds and hides from predators. Aggressively protective parents, willow ptarmigan have been known to attack humans to defend their young.

Wolf (Canis lupus): The largest and most majestic of the Far North's wild canines, wolves roam throughout all of mainland Alaska. They form close-knit family packs, which may range from a few animals to more than 30. Packs hunt a variety of prey, from small mammals and birds to caribou, moose, and Dall sheep. They communicate with each other through body language, barks, and howls.

Wolverine (Gulo gulo): Consider yourself lucky if you see a wolverine, because they are among the most secretive animals of the North. They are also fierce predators, with enormous strength and endurance. Denali biologists once reported seeing a wolverine drag a Dall sheep carcass more than 2 mi; an impressive feat, since the sheep likely weighed four times what the wolverine did. They have been known to run 40 mph through snow when chased by hunters. Though they look a lot like bears and have the ferocity of a grizzly, wolverines are in fact the largest members of the weasel family.

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica): One of the few amphibians to inhabit Alaska, and the only one to live north of the Panhandle, these frogs range as far north as the Arctic, surviving winters through the help of a biochemical change that keeps them in a suspended state, while frozen. Come spring, the bodies revive after thawing. Though they mate and lay eggs in water, wood frogs spend most of their lives on land.

Flora

Balsam Poplar and Black Cottonwood (Populus balsamifera and Populus trichocarpa): These two closely related species sometimes interbreed and are difficult, if not impossible, to tell apart. Mature trees of both species have gray bark that is rough and deeply furrowed. In midsummer they produce cottony seed pods. They also have large, shiny, arrowhead-shaped leaves.

Birch (Betula): Ranging from Kodiak Island to the Brooks Range, birch trees are important members of Alaska's boreal forests. Deciduous trees that prefer well-drained soils, they have white bark and green heart-to-diamond-shape leaves with sharp points and toothed edges. One species, the paper birch (Betula papyrifera), is easily distinguished by its peeling, paperlike bark.

Blueberry (J, Vaccinium): A favorite of berry pickers, blueberries are found throughout Alaska, except for the farthest northern reaches of the Arctic. They come in a variety of forms, including head-high forest bushes and sprawling tundra mats. Pink, bell-shape flowers bloom in spring and dark blue to almost black fruits begin to ripen in July or August, depending on the locale.

Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum): Also known to some as Indian celery, cow parsnip resides in open forests and meadows. The plant may grow several feet high, with dull green leaves the size of dinner plates; thick, hairy, hollow stalks; and clusters of white flowers. Anyone who harvests—or walks among—this species must take great care. Oils on the stalks, in combination with sunlight, can produce severe skin blistering.

Devil's Club (Echinopanax horridum): This is a prickly shrub that may grow 4 to 8 feet high and forms dense, spiny thickets in forests ranging from the Panhandle to South Central. Hikers need to be wary of this plant: its large, maple-like leaves (which can be a foot or more across) have spines, and needles cover its pale brown trunk. In late summer, black bears enjoy its bright red berries.

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis): The salmonberry canes, on which the leaves and fruits grow, may reach 7 feet tall; they grow in dense thickets. The juicy raspberry-like fruits may be either orange or red at maturity; the time of ripening is late June through August.

Spruce (Picea): Three species of spruce grow in Alaska. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) is an important member of coastal rain-forest communities; white spruce (Picea glauca) prefers dry, well-drained soils in boreal forests that stretch from South Central to the Arctic; black spruce (Picea mariana) thrives in wet, boggy areas.

Tall Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium): The fireweed is among the first plants to reinhabit burn areas and, in the proper conditions, it grows well. Found throughout much of Alaska, it's a beautiful plant, with fuchsia flowers that bloom from the bottom to the top of stalks; it's said that the final opening of flowers is a sign that winter is only weeks away. Spring fireweed shoots can be eaten raw or steamed and its blossoms can be added to salads. A related species is dwarf fireweed (Epilobium latifolium); also known as "river beauty," it is shorter and bushier.

Wild Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis): Serrated leaves grow on prickly spines, and fragrant five-petal flowers begin blooming in late spring. The flowers vary from light pink to dark red. Appearing in late summer and fall, bright red rose hips rich in vitamin C can be harvested for jellies, soups, or pie.

Willow (Salix): An estimated three dozen species of willow grow in Alaska. Some, like the felt-leaf willow (Salix alaxensis), may reach tree size; others form thickets; still others, like the Arctic willow (Salix arctica), hug the ground in alpine terrain. They often grow thickest in the subalpine zone between forest and tundra. Whatever the size, willows produce soft "catkins" (pussy willows), which are actually columns of densely packed flowers without petals.