ALASKA ADVENTURE - ALASKA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CENTER!
Posted by Jim Hanson on Sun, Sep 04, 2011 @ 03:41 AM
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a non-profit organization that provides enclosures and quality animal care for orphaned, injured and ill animals; cares for animals that cannot survive on their own in the wild; and educates visitors about Alaska's wildlife. Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center. The center is dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through public education. Over 3 million people have visited the wildlife center since its inception - with an annual visitation of over a quarter of a million people.
Bears
AWCC is home to 5 bears, two Black Bears, 2 Brown
Bears, and 1 Grizzly Bear. Spacious enclosures are provided for these special animals, allowing them to live a life that closely mirrors their life in the wild.
Black bears are the smallest bears in Alaska, but this is relative. Adult males can weigh close to 300 pounds. They are found in heavily forested areas throughout Alaska and are amazingly good tree climbers. Learn more about the rescues and recoveries of Kuma (black bear), Hugo (grizzly bear), Patron and Joe Boxer (brown bears http://www.alaskawildlife.org/bear.html) and the Kodiak Island bear cubs Taqoaka and Shaguyik (http://www.alaskawildlife.org)!
Elk
AWCC maintains a herd of elk for Watchable Wildlife. Elk in Alaska are found on Afognak and Raspberry Islands off of Kodiak Island. Like the plains bison, many of the elk at AWCC were once ranch animals. Some of the elk at AWCC originate from the Yukon Territory and were shipped here for care. A female elk will abandon her calf if it is born too late in the season because it will be able to survive a cold northern winter. Learn more about Homer, Danny, Danny Jr. and Iggy (http://www.alaskawildlife.org/elk.html)!
Bison
AWCC is home to the only wood bison herd in the
United States! After more than 100 years of extinction in Alaska, the AWCC Wood Bison herd arrived in November 2003 from the Yukon Territory in Canada and is part of a wood bison recovery program designed to reintroduce the species to Alaska. Wood bison hold the distinction as the largest land animal in North America. The first wood bison calves born in the state of Alaska in over 100 years were born at AWCC in 2005. In 2006, 7 calves were born and 7 more are expected for 2007. AWCC will get another 50 calves from Canada this winter and the first release date was scheduled for 2010 (http://www.alaskawildlife.org/bison.html).
Moose
Every spring, AWCC receives moose calves who have been orphaned in the wild. This year, the Center has received 2 calves, Gilly and Nelson. These calves require round the clock care and feeding - but are always a guest favorite! AWCC will keep these calves through the summer and ensure that they are weaned off of milk before the fall. At this time, they will either be released into the wild, relocated to another facility, or kept with the other moose at the Center on a permanent basis (www.alaskawildlife.org/MooseCalves.html). Read on for more on Semour, Chimo and Jack (http://www.alaskawildlife.org/moose.html)!
REMEMBER - Moose calves are rarely abandoned by their mothers! If you see a calf that you think is abandoned, contact the department of Fish & Game.
Musk Ox
Muskox are members of the goat family. They're an arctic survivor with a thick coat consisting of long (up to 36 inches) guard hairs covering a dense winter coat of harvestable warm fur called Qiviut. Qiviut is considered to be one of the warmest materials in the world. Learn more about Sidney and Slide (http://www.alaskawildlife.org/muskox.html)! Find out more on female musk ox calf Mukluk’s 2010 rescue from a Prudhoe Bay oil facility and recent reintroduction into the existing herd (http://www.alaskawildlife.org/babymuskox.html)!
Porcupine
Snickers the porcupine is a favorite at AWCC! He is a gregarious little fellow, having been raised in a home and relocated to the AWCC after this. Snickers is excellent for school presentations, where he will come out of his cage for the afternoon to entertain and teach the kids personally. Snickers became a star last year, when a Youtube video of him went worldwide and received over 1,800,000 views! See this incredible video on the AWCC website here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5I5H7EeC8k.
AWCC has provided care for hundreds of displaced animals because visitors like you have made critical contributions in the form of admission fees, donations, memberships, and gift shop purchases.
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Amateur photographers have the opportunity to take award winning photographs while animals display their natural, "wild", behavior!
Admission Prices:
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Adults $10.00
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Children (4-12) $7.50
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Children (under 4) FREE
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Seniors (65+) $7.50
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Active Military (with ID) $7.50
Be sure to visit AWCC for an ALASKAN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER!!!
PO Box 949Mile 79 Seward HighwayPortage GlacierAlaska 99587Phone: 907-783-2025www.alaskawildlife.org