Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located on 200 acres off the Seward Highway at the head of Turnagain Arm at the top of the Kenai Peninsula. It is a sanctuary for orphaned or injured wildlife and a temporary home for wildlife that is captive born or being moved elsewhere. 

We visited on Sunday, July 19, 2016 on our way from Anchorage to Homer. It was rainy and cold. Judy stayed mostly in the car while I venture out with an umbrella and enjoyed the enclosures. It was nice to see native Alaskan wildlife in one place. I always enjoy zoos with local wildlife. However, the enclosures were mostly pretty poor in terms of size and realistic natural environment. It was actually kind of a disappointment. 

Some photos from my visit follow:

Wood bison were exterminated in Alaska about 1900. A group of 130 were re-introduced in 2015 in southwestern Alaska which were held at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  

Moose were on exhibit, but we did see moose in Denali NP. 

The grizzly bear enclosure was comparatively large. We also saw grizzlies in the wild in Denali NP. 

The lone wolf was pacing back and forth along the fence. 

Rocky Mountain elk. We did not see any in the wild. 

Porcupine.

Red fox

Arctic fox

The Sitka black-tailed deer is smaller than the Columbian black-tailed deer of the American west which is smaller than the related mule deer. It is only found in Alaska and British Columbia.