Sitkoh Bay & Pavlov Harbor
It was a day full of activity, excitement, and brown bears. First thing in the morning we spotted a sow and two cubs foraging in a meadow. On closer inspection we found yet another brown bear, possibly a male, just a short distance off. While the bow was full of raised binoculars, the aft bridge deck was full of raised arms as stretchers took in deep breaths of Southeast Alaska’s morning air.
We went ashore in Sitkoh Bay and were greeted by a bald eagle from his nest just above our landing. Making our way into the woods, we quickly came upon both deer and bear tracks on the trail and kept our eyes wide for their makers. Soon several Sitka black-tailed deer were spotted through the forest branches. The air was warm as we made our way back to the shore, noticing the many variations of banana slugs along the way.
In the afternoon, Naturalist Bette Lu Krause explained the importance of salmon to the entire coastal ecosystem of this area. Unlike the Pacific Northwest and areas of the East Coast where wild salmon runs have decreased significantly, 98% of the wild salmon runs in Southeast Alaska are still intact. The salmon use an awareness of the earth’s magnetism as well as sensitivities to daylight and smell to make their way back to their birthplace to spawn. More than 130 species, plus many more insects, benefit from eating the salmon.
In Pavlof Harbor we spotted a brown bear foraging in the grasses before we even got off the ship. Some were able to get a close look as they explored this peaceful bay by kayak. Hikers were treated to multitudes of bog orchids and some were lucky enough to find examples of the round leafed sundew. This plant has adapted by becoming insectivorous and is able to capture and digest insects. In the lake, a beaver was sighted swimming and slapping its tail on the water.
As the hikers made their way back to the landing they were kept on their toes by a brown bear wandered through the nearby stream. Brown bears evolved mostly on tundra and have a characteristic hump between their shoulders. They can be several hundred pounds heavier than grizzlies due to the abundance of salmon in their diet. The hikers took to higher ground and were able to glimpse this amazing animal from a safe distance.
It was a day full of activity, excitement, and brown bears. First thing in the morning we spotted a sow and two cubs foraging in a meadow. On closer inspection we found yet another brown bear, possibly a male, just a short distance off. While the bow was full of raised binoculars, the aft bridge deck was full of raised arms as stretchers took in deep breaths of Southeast Alaska’s morning air.
We went ashore in Sitkoh Bay and were greeted by a bald eagle from his nest just above our landing. Making our way into the woods, we quickly came upon both deer and bear tracks on the trail and kept our eyes wide for their makers. Soon several Sitka black-tailed deer were spotted through the forest branches. The air was warm as we made our way back to the shore, noticing the many variations of banana slugs along the way.
In the afternoon, Naturalist Bette Lu Krause explained the importance of salmon to the entire coastal ecosystem of this area. Unlike the Pacific Northwest and areas of the East Coast where wild salmon runs have decreased significantly, 98% of the wild salmon runs in Southeast Alaska are still intact. The salmon use an awareness of the earth’s magnetism as well as sensitivities to daylight and smell to make their way back to their birthplace to spawn. More than 130 species, plus many more insects, benefit from eating the salmon.
In Pavlof Harbor we spotted a brown bear foraging in the grasses before we even got off the ship. Some were able to get a close look as they explored this peaceful bay by kayak. Hikers were treated to multitudes of bog orchids and some were lucky enough to find examples of the round leafed sundew. This plant has adapted by becoming insectivorous and is able to capture and digest insects. In the lake, a beaver was sighted swimming and slapping its tail on the water.
As the hikers made their way back to the landing they were kept on their toes by a brown bear wandered through the nearby stream. Brown bears evolved mostly on tundra and have a characteristic hump between their shoulders. They can be several hundred pounds heavier than grizzlies due to the abundance of salmon in their diet. The hikers took to higher ground and were able to glimpse this amazing animal from a safe distance.
