wildlife

A pair of bald eagles lay on the beach near Auke Bay after locking talons and falling from the sky on June 9, 2020, a somewhat common behavior. The Juneau Raptor Center has had an active spring, handling half a dozen calls about bald eagles in the last week and rescuing other birds as well. (Courtesy photo | Kevin Henderson)

It was a busy week for Juneau Raptor Center

Half a dozen bald eagles and other birds have needed help.

A pair of bald eagles lay on the beach near Auke Bay after locking talons and falling from the sky on June 9, 2020, a somewhat common behavior. The Juneau Raptor Center has had an active spring, handling half a dozen calls about bald eagles in the last week and rescuing other birds as well. (Courtesy photo | Kevin Henderson)
A black bear feeds on dandelions near Peterson Creek in this August 2018 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Be mindful of inquisitive ursine neighbors as weather warms

Bears are trash scavengers, particularly in lean years

A black bear feeds on dandelions near Peterson Creek in this August 2018 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Salmonberries hang fat from a bush on a recent summer. (Courtesy Photo | Mary Catharine Martin)

Alaskan solace on a recent hike

Even if we are quarantined and we can only see spring arrive from our window.

Salmonberries hang fat from a bush on a recent summer. (Courtesy Photo | Mary Catharine Martin)
A squirrel, not pictured here, temporarily knocked out power to fifteen customers near the governor’s mansion Monday morning. (Courtesy photo | Unsplash)

Squirrel temporarily knocks out power

Power was quickly restored, the squirrel was not.

A squirrel, not pictured here, temporarily knocked out power to fifteen customers near the governor’s mansion Monday morning. (Courtesy photo | Unsplash)
Juneau guides help film crew capture something never seen before on film: wolves catching salmon at night

Juneau guides help film crew capture something never seen before on film: wolves catching salmon at night

They found themselves sitting in the dark, surrounded by wolves.

Juneau guides help film crew capture something never seen before on film: wolves catching salmon at night
Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire                                Stephen Lewis, a researcher with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, gives a presentation on golden eagles in Alaska at University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday.
Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire                                Stephen Lewis, a researcher with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, gives a presentation on golden eagles in Alaska at University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday.
A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive and sent to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka after being struck by a car Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Police Department)
A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive and sent to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka after being struck by a car Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Police Department)
A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive by the Juneau Raptor Center after being struck by a car Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Kathy Benner)

Rare raptor rescued from rainy roadside

Juneau’s not their ideal terrain.

A juvenile male golden eagle was rescued off of Egan Drive by the Juneau Raptor Center after being struck by a car Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Kathy Benner)
Second sighting of brown bear reported on Salmon Creek Trail

Second sighting of brown bear reported on Salmon Creek Trail

It’s the second sighting in four days.

Second sighting of brown bear reported on Salmon Creek Trail
Polar bears invade Russian town

Polar bears invade Russian town

Locals delighted but wary.

Polar bears invade Russian town
A beaver enjoys breakfast near the Mendenhall Glacier in late June 2017. (Courtesy Photo | Linda Shaw)

Talk gives insight into beaver activity

A free presentation this week gives a look into the busy world of beavers, and sheds light on how their activity affects everything around them.… Continue reading

A beaver enjoys breakfast near the Mendenhall Glacier in late June 2017. (Courtesy Photo | Linda Shaw)
Fishing gear downs seagull

Fishing gear downs seagull

A local bird rescue center is asking fishermen to be careful with their fishing gear after a seagull ingested a treble hook and died earlier… Continue reading

Fishing gear downs seagull
Buzz, chirp, squeak: How and why insects make sound

Buzz, chirp, squeak: How and why insects make sound

Back in the Midwest, in the summers I listened to cicadas calling and crickets chirping — sounds that don’t happen here in Southeast Alaska. We… Continue reading

Buzz, chirp, squeak: How and why insects make sound
An insect has three body parts, something kids learned with a dance at Bug Day at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Ecosystem ‘glue:’ Kids learn insect ins and outs at Bug Day

They’re creepy. They’re crawly. And in Alaska, they’re the bane of any fishing expedition. But bugs — even mosquitos — are also a vital part… Continue reading

An insect has three body parts, something kids learned with a dance at Bug Day at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Fishermen mistook this humpback whale carcass near Juneau for a giant squid. A ball and socket from the pectoral joint sticks out from the “badly decomposed” carcass, giving the impression of a cephalopod’s eye. (Courtesy Photo | Johanna Vollenweider via NOAA Fisheries)

Fishermen spot giant squid, turns out to be a ‘badly-decomposed’ whale

What fishermen thought was a rarely-seen sea creature on Tuesday turned out to be a badly-decomposed cetacean. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration received reports… Continue reading

Fishermen mistook this humpback whale carcass near Juneau for a giant squid. A ball and socket from the pectoral joint sticks out from the “badly decomposed” carcass, giving the impression of a cephalopod’s eye. (Courtesy Photo | Johanna Vollenweider via NOAA Fisheries)