Moving to Alaska comes with a ton of perks: plenty of wide-open spaces, vast swaths of wilderness to explore, and an incredibly diverse roster of wildlife to spot. If you’re considering a move to the Last Frontier—or just a visit—we’ve put together a selection of Alaska’s most intriguing animals for your must-see list.

We’ll start with Alaska’s “big five.”

grizzly bear in nature

Alaska’s Big Five #1: The Grizzly Bear

You’ll hear Alaska referred to as “bear country” – and with good reason. In some areas, such as the Alaska Peninsula where food is abundant, bear density has been measured at as much as one bear per square mile. i

Within the brown bear category (Ursus arctos), you’ll find the bear that most commonly qualifies as one of Alaska’s big five: the grizzly bear. Scientists have given grizzlies an impressive and intimidating name, Ursus arctos horribilis, likely because they can be more aggressive than other bear species. Grizzly bears primarily live inland. As a result, their diet involves more plants than that of their coastal-dwelling brown bear cousins, who primarily dine on salmon.ii

Grizzly Bear Fast Facts:

Grizzly bears can run as fast as 30 mph (which is why you should never try to outrun a bear)!

Grizzly bears may eat as many as 30 pounds of food a day, especially when they’re storing up fat for the winter.

As the Alaska Department of Fish and Game puts it, bears have their own “personal space.” When a human enters that space, it can cause bears to get aggressive, especially where female bears are concerned. So make sure you give a bear its space if you encounter one in Alaska!iii

Alaskan Moose in nature

Alaska’s Big Five #2: The Alaskan Moose 

We owe the word “moose” to the Algonquin Indians. They called these animals mooswa, which means “twig-eater” or “the animal that strips bark off of trees.” As the largest member of the deer family, moose are also the tallest mammals in North America. In fact, they can reach as much as 6.5 feet, when measuring from the base of their hooves to their shoulders. You’ll find these up-to-1,600-pound giants all over Alaska, with population estimates as much as 200,000. (That’s about two-thirds of the population of Anchorage!)iv 

Alaskan Moose Fast Facts:

Although the Department of Fish and Game are still working on a highly accurate moose survey, one estimate suggests there are as many as 1,500 moose in Anchorage alone—or one moose for every 192 people in the area.

Moose have been known to run as fast as 34 mph and swim as fast as 6 mph. In other words, you can’t outrun or outswim them, either.

Moose are unable to sweat, so they tend to stick to cooler areas where temperatures stay below 80°F.v

Caribou in nature

Alaska’s Big Five #3: The Caribou 

If you live in Europe, you might know the caribou (Rangifer tarandus) as a reindeer. However, in Alaska, the name “caribou” is saved for the wild version of the animal, while the domesticated ones are known as reindeer.  

The ~750,000 caribou in Alaska live and travel in herds. These can be as small as 10, or as large as the Western Arctic Herd, estimated at about 325,000. Because Caribou are often on the move, it can be hard to find a reliable spot in Alaska to see them. However, Denali National Park is a good bet for spotting these creatures, especially if you go early and drive deep into the park.vi 

Caribou Fast Facts:

We already mentioned that caribou are migratory animals, but you may not realize just how far they can travel. Porcupine caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) have been tracked traveling more than 3,000 miles in a single year.

Caribou have a unique way of communicating with the surrounding herd. When they sense danger, a scent gland on their ankles puts out an odor to alert the surrounding caribou.

When they walk, caribou make a clicking noise, which is the result of a tendon in their foot rubbing against a bone. This sound can help members of a herd locate each other, even in snow and fog.vii

Grey wolf in nature

Alaska’s Big Five #4: The Grey Wolf 

While gray wolves are relatively common in Alaska, it can be tough to spot one. Although population densities in wolf-friendly areas are estimated at as much as one wolf per 25 mi2, they can be somewhat elusive—the hardest of the big five to view. Like caribou, Denali National Park is one of the more likely places to see one of these mysterious animals.  

As you may know, wolves live in packs, organized by social hierarchies. However, what you might not realize is that these packs roam over a significant amount of territory, as much as 1,000 mi2. Individual wolves may also travel as many as 30 miles a day. Like caribou, their movements make it difficult to predict exactly where you’ll see a wolf—but you’ll never forget your first sighting!viii 

Grey Wolf Fast Facts:

Wolves used to have significant populations across two-thirds of the U.S. Today, Alaska is one of only seven states with a notable wolf population.

Wolves primarily dine on meat and may eat as much as 20 pounds in a single feeding.

Wolves and man’s best friend are close cousins biologically. In fact, wolf and dog DNA differs by a very tiny margin: 0.2%. To give you some comparison, human and chimpanzee DNA differs by 1.2%.ix

Dall Sheep in nature

Alaska’s Big Five #5: The Dall Sheep

You’ll find Dall sheep clinging to cliffs all over Alaska‘s mountainous areas. There, they search for food and stay out of the reach of potential predators. The Dall sheep attract many spectators and photographers with their distinctive horns. The males of the species sport thick, distinguishing horns that grow in a spiral. Female Dall sheep also have horns, but they’re smaller and shorter, with less of a dramatic curve.x 

Dall Sheep Fast Facts:

Dall sheep were named after W.H. Dall, an American naturalist who explored Alaska. His first expedition to the area launched in 1865, when the state was still a Russian territory.

Dall sheep horns only grow seasonally. Growth stops in late fall and winter, then starts up again in the spring, creating a distinctive pattern of rings. Scientists use these rings to determine a Dall sheep’s age.

In addition to their exotic horns, one of the other attractions of Dall sheep is their tendency to spar, especially during breeding season. A ram will engage another ram in battle. Both establish a distance of around 30 feet, then they run straight into each other, their horns colliding with a crash. The sound can carry as far as half a mile.xi

We’ve now covered Alaska’s big five—your definite must-sees while you’re in the Land of the Midnight Sun. However, these five are just the start of the incredible wildlife you’ll encounter in the state.

As a bonus, we’ll include eight others to keep your eyes out for. We’ll also suggest a spot for viewing each of these fascinating creatures. Just remember, this list is by no means inclusive. There are plenty more animals to discover in Alaska—and plenty more places to locate them!

Keep Your Eyes Out for These Magnificent Eight

American Bald Eagle

Found in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge 

Puffin

Found in Kenai Fjords National Park

Snowy Owl

Found in upper Northwest Alaska, along the coast

Humpback Whale

Found during summer along Alaska’s coast

Black Oystercatcher

Found in Kenai Fjords National Park

Sea Otter

Found in Seward, especially near the harbor

Musk Ox

Found on Nunivak Island, as well as near Nome

Red Squirrel

Found in Alaska’s forested areas

Now that you’ve gotten a taste of what’s waiting for you in Alaska, are you ready to make the move? If so, we’d be happy to help! Just get in touch with our Anchorage-based team for a free quote for your move. 

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