Girdwood Alaska

At the 140-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, jaws drop in awe-even those of longtime Alaskans who've studied grizzlies and other animals up close. AWCC's mission is to provide refuge for orphaned, injured, and ill animals-those that can't survive in the wild. The center, which opened to the public in 1993, also educates visitors about Alaska's wildlife. On your visit, you might see a Siberian boar snoozing, moose foraging, baby moose napping, plus caribou, elk, bison, baby Sitka black-tailed deer, eagles, and other animals. The musk oxen are worth the visit all by themselves.

The Center's Setting

Set on the shores of Turnagain Arm, surrounded by mountains and hanging glaciers, the center is the perfect setting to learn about Alaskan wildlife. The animals are located in different areas grouped around several road loops. Perhaps the best way to view the facility is to first drive around to get your bearings, then park by the gift shop and walk. Each habitat area has a sign explaining the history and habits of the particular animals.

Stars of the Show

Hugo steals the show. She's a young grizzly bear that was found when she was a cub by hunters near Kotzebue, in the northwest corner of the state. Orphaned and starving, she had almost 150 porcupine quills stuck in her paws and was unable to find food. The cub got a ride to Kotzebue on a snowmachine with the hunters, then a trip to Anchorage on an airplane. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, formerly known as Big Game Alaska, cared for Hugo after she was brought to their facility. She was placed on antibiotics and fed a high-fat diet.

Now Hugo has matured, and while she will never be released into the wild, she struts around her 13-acre, fenced-in habitat like the queen she is. Viewers can see her pigeon-toed walk up close-she passes just feet from the fence. She might even climb up to the roof of a small cabin to snack on a piece of salmon she finds there. Seeing a bear eating salmon on the roof of a cabin is quite a sight.

How Long Should You Stay?

One to two hours should suffice for seeing all the animals, depending on the time of day and the animal activity. For animal lovers, it would be easy to spend half the day here. Sometimes it's possible to witness the rehabilitation of orphaned baby animals of various species, but there is no set schedule for this.

About AWCC

AWCC is non-profit. Their funding comes from admission fees, gift shop and snack bar sales, grants, and donations. Your cash donation to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center may be tax deductible. Their gift shop is quite elaborate, ranging from silk scarves with bears on them ($40) to Big Game Alaska postcards (10 cents each). Educational books on bears, bison, and other animals are available, as well as jewelry, note cards, candleholders, and other items.

Why Should You Go?

Even if you're not a "zoo person"-and even if you've lived in Alaska all your life and think you know something about moose and bears-go visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Just speaking from the ooh-and-aah factor, it's better than a zoo. To be so close to Alaska's animals in their natural environment is a real treat.