Kodiak Wildlife
According to the calendar it is spring, but in Alaska, we won’t see much evidence…
This week I will discuss recent and current research on Steller sea lions as well…
This week I’ll tell you a little about Steller sea lion reproductive behavior and biology. Steller sea…
Steller sea lions are impressive animals, and you wouldn’t want to run into one in…
Sea otters are well adapted to their marine environment. Their nostrils and ears can close…
Sea otters evoke strong emotions in humans. Most of us can’t help but say, “Ahhhh!”…
Two species of porpoises frequent the waters near Kodiak Island: The harbor porpoise and…
The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) is one of three species of terns found in Alaska.…
This summer and fall several dead whales were spotted in the Western Gulf of Alaska,…
This week, I want to take a closer look at whale behavior. Over the past…
Killer whales (or orcas) are not really whales but are the largest members of the…
Gray whales are one of the most-researched and best-understood species of whales. They are baleen…
TAGS: Gray Whale, Gray whale feeding, Kodiak Island, whales
Humpback whales are the best-known members of the family Balaenopteridae. Like other rorquals, humpbacks have a…
Members of the whale family Balaenopteridae are known as the Rorqual whales. “Rorqual” is a…
Baleen whales are in the suborder Mysticeti. They differ from toothed whales in a number…
Whales have been on my mind lately; probably because I’ve seen some nearly every time…
My December bear story is more than a bear tale. It describes a memorable 18…
My tragic bear tale occurred in the mid-1980s during our summer bear-viewing trips. My husband, Mike,…
TAGS: Brown Bear, Charging Bear, Kodiak Alaska, Kodiak Bear
This week I am posting the first of my three-part series on Kodiak Bear Tales.…
Autumn on Kodiak Island is a beautiful time of year, but I’ll be honest, it…
The Munsey kids usually had domestic cats, but they also had many wild pets over…
TAGS: Bald Eagle, Kodiak Island, Wild Pets
It has been estimated that marine mammal entanglement results in the deaths of hundreds of…
Artic terns are our most punctual spring visitors. Their arrival at the rookery near my…
TAGS:
Puffins arrive in Uyak Bay in May, and it is a welcome sign of spring…
TAGS: Alaska, horned puffin, Kodiak Island, puffins, tufted puffin
Spring is an active time for Sitka black-tailed deer, red fox, and mountain goats…
This week, I want to talk about krill. Kodiak Island is known for its big…
TAGS: Baleen Whales, Euphausiids, Fish food, Krill, Zooplankton
Three orphaned cubs unexpectedly entered our lives two weeks ago. You may remember in my…
Experts will tell you that the mating season for Kodiak bears occurs from mid-May to…
Bears exhibit two notable springtime behaviors. The first is emergence from their dens, and the…
The piercing, high-pitched call causes me look up at the sky, where I see two…