Unique Animals in Alaska (and How to Spot Them)

Alaska wildlife is as rugged and untamed as the landscape itself, ranging from massive animals (like moose and bears) to delicate butterflies, from eagles cutting through the clouds to whales breaching the ocean’s surface.In these environments, animals roam freely — often close enough for you to spot them from a ship’s deck or on a guided shore excursion. Holland America makes it easy to plan these moments, pairing scenic cruising experiences with wildlife-focused tours that bring you closer to the action.

• Alaska’s landscapes support an incredible variety of wildlife, from massive land mammals to seabirds and whales.
• The “Big Five” animals — bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves — represent the most iconic wildlife sightings in the region.
• Alaska’s waters are home to abundant marine life including sea otters, seals, sea lions and multiple whale species.
• Coastal cruises and guided shore excursions make it easier to safely see animals in their natural habitats.
• Respecting wildlife and following professional guides ensures a safer and more rewarding viewing experience.

Let’s start with the celebrities: Alaska’s “Big Five.” These are the animals that tend to appear on postcards, documentaries and travelers’ wish lists. In fact, you can probably guess what most of them are without even reading further. Spotting even one of them during your trip can feel like striking wildlife gold, and many guests end up seeing several along the way.

Alaska’s skies are busy places. From colorful seabirds to powerful raptors, the state hosts hundreds of bird species throughout the year. Many are easy to spot along the coast during cruise sailings or shore excursions; just look up.

Puffins bring plenty of personality to Alaska’s coastal cliffs. Horned and tufted puffins feature bright orange beaks, bold facial markings and a slightly comical expression that has earned them the nickname “sea parrots.” During summer, they gather in large nesting colonies along rocky islands.

Guests often see puffins during boat tours around Kenai Fjords. They also appear in Kachemak Bay near Homer and along the coastlines surrounding Juneau and Ketchikan. Watch for them fluttering across the water with quick wingbeats before diving beneath the surface to catch their lunch.

The willow ptarmigan — Alaska’s state bird — is a master of camouflage. In summer, its feathers display mottled browns that blend into tundra shrubs. When winter arrives, the bird molts into nearly pure white plumage, allowing it to disappear against snowy landscapes.

You’ll find willow ptarmigans across tundra and shrub habitats throughout interior and northern Alaska. Visitors sometimes spot them in Denali National Park or along scenic drives such as the Denali Highway and Dalton Highway. Their soft clucking calls have a way of revealing their presence before you see them, so keep your eyes and your ears open.

Seeing a bald eagle in the lower 48 typically feels like a noteworthy event; in Alaska it's an everyday occurrence — so much so that residents sometimes affectionately call them “bald seagulls.” But there’s no mistaking these majestic masters of the air for their more french-fry eating cousins. Their white heads and tails stand out clearly against dark feathers. And with wingspans reaching over 7 feet, these powerful raptors are Alaska’s largest bird of prey.

Alaska hosts more bald eagles than any other U.S. state. The population is estimated at about 30,000 birds. Look for them perched in tall spruce trees near Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Haines, as well as along rivers and lakes throughout the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage region. To really hedge your bets, book a spot on the Haines Eagle Preserve Float & Wildlife Quest tour.

Sandhill cranes stand nearly 3 feet tall and have a wingspan of about 6 feet. They move with a graceful stride through wetlands and open fields. Their rolling, bugling calls carry long distances across the landscape (a sound many Alaskans associate with spring migration).

These birds gather in large numbers during migration seasons in Interior Alaska. Fairbanks is a well-known viewing area, along with agricultural fields on the Kenai Peninsula. Seeing a flock glide overhead adds a memorable moment to any wildlife outing.

With heavyweight contenders such as the bald eagle and the sandhill crane, Alaska seems to have a thing for large birds. Snowy owls, as the heaviest owls in the state, are no exception. With bright white feathers and piercing yellow eyes, they blend into tundra landscapes where they hunt lemmings and other small prey. See them gliding against the white and gray backdrop of Alaska snowfields and their appearance can feel almost ghostlike.

Snowy owls primarily live in northern Alaska, especially across the North Slope and Arctic coastal regions.

Common ravens are everywhere in Alaska, but there’s nothing ‘common’ about them. Larger than crows and covered in glossy black feathers, these impressive birds are some of the most intelligent animals in the world. Their voices include more than 30 distinct vocalizations, ranging from deep croaks to playful clicks and whistles. They also have the ability to mimic other sounds (including human speech).

You’ll see ravens in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and nearly every community along Alaska’s road system. They also appear around cruise ports throughout Southeast Alaska. These natural opportunists sometimes work in teams to raid the colonies of other seabirds (and occasionally grab food from the plates of unsuspecting cruise guests).

Beyond the Big Five, the Alaska landscape supports other mammals that likewise play key roles in the region’s complex ecosystems. And while sightings during a cruise or cruisetour can be less predictable, they’re still worth keeping an eye out for.

Both Arctic and red foxes are agile predators with striking appearances. The Arctic fox sports thick white or pale fur that blends with snowy tundra environments. Red foxes display rusty coats and bushy tails, often appearing in forested regions or even near towns.

Arctic foxes typically live in northern and western coastal Alaska. Red foxes range widely across the state, including areas near Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali National Park. Travelers sometimes spot them trotting along open meadows or forest edges.

Beavers are some of Alaska’s most industrious engineers. By building dams and lodges, they reshape streams into ponds and wetlands that support birds, fish and amphibians. Their work creates entire mini-ecosystems.

You’ll find beavers along lakes and rivers across much of Alaska. Their handiwork is sometimes visible from roads or walking trails near Anchorage and throughout the Kenai Peninsula. Look for gnawed tree trunks or large masses of sticks and debris at the water’s edge (classic signs of beaver activity).

Wolverines carry a reputation far larger than their size. These powerful animals roam huge territories across rugged mountains and tundra landscapes. They’re known for their incredible physical endurance, and they have the attitude to match; they regularly pick fights with animals many times their size.

Sightings are extremely rare due to their solitary nature and remote habitat. A lucky few visitors glimpse wolverines in Denali National Park or along high mountain ranges of interior Alaska. Even experienced wildlife guides celebrate a wolverine sighting, so if you manage to spot one, it must be your lucky day.

Snowshoe hares play a critical role in Alaska’s ecosystems, their populations rising and falling in cycles that impact predators such as lynx and foxes. They get their name from their large hind feet, which can be 7 inches long and feature webbing between the toes, creating very effective “snowshoes” for bounding across snowy surfaces. And, like the willow ptarmigan, snowshoe hares change color with the seasons (brown during summer and white during winter).

They live in brushy forests across interior and southcentral Alaska. Visitors occasionally see them darting through shrubs around Anchorage, Fairbanks, or the Kenai Peninsula.

Since long before cruise ships took to the waves, Alaska’s coastal waters have been home to living wonders populating some of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. And whether you book a boat tour to get closer to these amazing animals or just stand on the Lido Deck and gaze out across the horizon, Alaska’s aquatic life has a way of surfacing when you least expect it.

“Cute” doesn’t even begin to describe it; sea otters are among the most adorable and entertaining animals you’ll see along Alaska’s coast. Floating on their backs, they often hold paws together while drifting through kelp beds. They also use small rocks to crack open shellfish — a clever tool-using behavior rarely seen in the animal kingdom — and when they come across a particularly good rock, they keep it for later by storing it in their baggy folds of loose, waterproof skin.

While sea otters were hunted extensively in the early 1900s, sea otter populations have rebounded strongly in Alaska. An estimated 70,000 now live in the state’s waters, representing roughly 90 percent of the world’s remaining sea otters. Guests often spot them during excursions around Seward, Prince William Sound, Sitka and Juneau—especially on the Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest excursion.

Harbor seals frequently appear resting on floating ice near tidewater glaciers or lounging on rocky shorelines. Their spotted coats and round dog-like faces give them a gentle look, but to the fish and smaller aquatic animals of the region, they’re skilled predators..

Visitors commonly see harbor seals in places like Glacier Bay National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward. These icy landscapes create excellent habitats where seals can rest and rear their pups while staying close to rich feeding areas.

If you hear what sounds like hundreds of dogs barking across the water during a coastal cruise, there’s a good chance that you’re approaching a sea lion colony. Steller sea lions gather in noisy groups on rocky outcrops known as “haulouts,” and boy, do they ever give new meaning to the word crowd. Males can weigh over 2,000 pounds, packing a lot of blubber (and a lot of attitude) into close proximity with others of their kind. Watching a colony interact is an energetic experience.

Wildlife cruises from ports such as Seward, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan often pass sea lion rookeries. Guides point out the differences between younger animals and the larger dominant males guarding their territory.

Keep an eye on the water while sailing through Alaska’s coastal passages — you never know when a black dorsal fin might appear. Orcas (typically called “killer whales”) are the largest members of the dolphin family, instantly recognizable for their bold black-and-white coloring. They travel in family pods and hunt cooperatively, feeding on fish, seals and other marine animals.

Orcas appear regularly along the Inside Passage near Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. They’re also seen around Seward and throughout Prince William Sound. And if you spot one, you’ll never forget it.

Sharing this list with the likes of sea otters and orcas, salmon may seem just a little mundane… until you see them crowding the rivers and streams and swimming en masse against the current. Pacific salmon connect nearly every ecosystem in Alaska. These fish hatch in freshwater streams, migrate to the ocean and later return upstream to spawn. Their annual runs not only help preserve their own species; they are considered a “keystone species,” providing a nutrient-rich diet for many of Alaska’s predators.

Bears, wolves, eagles and marine mammals come out in force to hunt these tenacious ocean dwellers. That means if you go to where the salmon are, you might get to cross a few other iconic Alaska animals off your bucket list. Major salmon runs occur across Southeast and Southcentral Alaska.

Under the waves, an aquatic giant gathers speed before launching upward to shatter the surface—a behavior most often seen in younger humpback whales. For a brief moment that feels like time itself has stopped, the massive animal hangs suspended between sea and sky, before crashing back down with the intensity of a thunderclap. You can only gape in stunned silence at the sheer power and majesty of what you just witnessed. What you saw was a “breach,” and it’s just one of the reasons humpback whales are the stars of Alaska wildlife tours.

Known as much for their playfulness as for their size (adults typically weigh anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 pounds), humpbacks also display one of the ocean’s most fascinating hunting strategies: bubble-net feeding. Groups of whales work together to release spiraling curtains of bubbles that herd schools of fish toward the surface, making them easier to gulp down all at once. Whale-watching excursions operate from ports including Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Seward and Sitka, and sightings are also common while sailing through Glacier Bay National Park or Prince William Sound.

Alaska’s wildlife is truly wild — and the goal is always to see animals without disturbing them. Interrupting their natural behavior or unexpectedly confronting them is extremely dangerous, not only for you, but for the animal itself. So, when you’re spotting wildlife along Alaska’s coast,  heading out on a shore excursion, or visiting a wildlife center, keep these rules in mind:

• Give wildlife space
• Never feed animals
• Keep food and trash secured
• Follow your guide's instructions during every excursion

The safest way to observe wildlife is on an official shore excursion or at a sanctuary where trained professionals guide the experience. These experts know how to interpret animal behavior and maintain safe viewing distances.

A good rule to remember: if an animal changes its behavior because of you, you’re too close.

From brown bears fishing in rushing rivers to humpback whales breaching beside your ship, Alaska delivers wildlife encounters that stay with you long after the voyage ends. Sailing with Holland America places you in prime territory for spotting animals while pairing scenic cruising with expert-led shore excursions. Browse Alaska cruise itineraries and start charting your own wildlife-watching adventure.

What animals are only found in Alaska?

A small number of animals are found only in Alaska, most of them living on remote islands or in Arctic habitats. Examples include the Kodiak bear, which lives exclusively on Kodiak Island, the Alexander Archipelago wolf of Southeast Alaska and birds like McKay’s bunting, which breeds only on a few Bering Sea islands. Several small mammals such as the Alaska tiny shrew and Pribilof Island shrew are also unique to the state, highlighting how Alaska’s isolated landscapes have produced wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

What are the “Big 5” animals in Alaska?

The Alaska “Big Five” refers to the state’s most famous large land mammals: brown bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and gray wolves. These animals symbolize Alaska’s rugged wilderness and are often the wildlife sightings travelers hope to experience during their trip.

What wildlife can I see in Alaska?

Alaska is home to an incredible range of wildlife across land, sea and sky. Visitors commonly see animals such as brown bears, moose, bald eagles, puffins, sea otters, seals, sea lions, whales and salmon (depending on where they travel). Cruises and guided shore excursions make it easier to safely observe these animals in their natural habitats, especially along the Inside Passage and Alaska’s wildlife-rich coastal waters.