wildlife

Wetlands are surveyed by the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust. (Photo provided by the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust)

Kachemak Heritage Land Trust completes conservation project with around 209 acres

The project is part of ongoing effort to conserve Kenai River watershed to compensate for the impacts of the Sterling Highway MP 45-60 Reconstruction Project

 

Flier for Bear Awareness and Electric Fencing Workshops. (Provided by Defenders of Wildlife)

Local workshops to focus on managing bear attractants, electric fencing

The series will run Monday through Friday, April 1-5, in Hope, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna and Homer

 

Ben Meyer and Brandon Drzazgowski present to the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Watershed Forum gives update on streambank restoration

The watershed forum and other organizations are working to repair habitat and mitigate erosion

 

Teresa Becher watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River on Saturday, April 24, 2021. She and her volunteer team monitor belugas in the Cook Inlet. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

Ship noise may impact endangered Cook Inlet belugas, study finds

Cook Inlet sees traffic and noise from commercial shipping, the international airport, military operations and oil and gas exploration

Teresa Becher watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River on Saturday, April 24, 2021. She and her volunteer team monitor belugas in the Cook Inlet. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
A newly rescued sea otter pup receives care from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program in Seward, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Photo courtesy Peter Sculli/Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center admits sea otter pup

It is the third sea otter pup to be rescued this year

A newly rescued sea otter pup receives care from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program in Seward, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Photo courtesy Peter Sculli/Alaska SeaLife Center)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Kenai River late-run kings designated a stock of management concern

The board-set optimal escapement goal for large late-run Kenai River king salmon has not been achieved in the four years that it has been in place

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Bear 128 Grazer, with her recognizable blonde ears, wades through the water of the Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Felicia Jimenez/National Park Service)

Grazer named weighty winner of Fat Bear Week

Over the course of six days of voting, she proved herself the fattest bear of Katmai National Park

Bear 128 Grazer, with her recognizable blonde ears, wades through the water of the Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Felicia Jimenez/National Park Service)
Bear 747, defending Fat Bear Week Champion, stands on the bank of the Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. The winner of a Thursday matchup between Bear 128 Grazer and Bear 151 Walker will meet 747 in Fat Bear Week competition on Saturday. (Photo courtesy C. Cravatta/National Park Service)

Survival of the fattest

Paunchy ursine competitors go head-to-head in annual Fat Bear Week

Bear 747, defending Fat Bear Week Champion, stands on the bank of the Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. The winner of a Thursday matchup between Bear 128 Grazer and Bear 151 Walker will meet 747 in Fat Bear Week competition on Saturday. (Photo courtesy C. Cravatta/National Park Service)
A seal rescued earlier this summer by the Alaska SeaLife Center awaits release on the North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

2nd harbor seal release draws large crowds

The seals were Pierogi, Pringle and Belle de Fontenay

A seal rescued earlier this summer by the Alaska SeaLife Center awaits release on the North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Attendees search the waters of the Kenai River for sightings of Cook Inlet belugas during Belugas Count! at the Kenai Bluff Overlook in Kenai, Alaska on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Belugas Count! celebrated in Kenai

At a viewing station on Kenai’s bluff overlook, dozens gathered and peered out over the Kenai River during a morning session

Attendees search the waters of the Kenai River for sightings of Cook Inlet belugas during Belugas Count! at the Kenai Bluff Overlook in Kenai, Alaska on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Architect Nancy Casey speaks in front of a small gathering at the Fireside Chat presented by the Kenai Watershed Forum on Nov. 30, 2022, at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Watershed Forum’s Fireside Chats return Wednesday

The chats will cover a range of interesting topics, centered on knowledge, research and projects

Architect Nancy Casey speaks in front of a small gathering at the Fireside Chat presented by the Kenai Watershed Forum on Nov. 30, 2022, at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska SeaLife Center veterinary technician Jessica Davis carries a newborn otter pup patient into the Alaska SeaLife Center Veterinary clinic for an initial admit exam on Sept. 9, 2023. The otter pup was admitted to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program after witnesses watched orcas attack the pup’s mother. (Photo courtesy Peter Sculli/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Newborn sea otter rescued after orca attack

Tthe animal still had a fresh umbilical cord, suggesting she was only a day, “possibly even hours,” old

Alaska SeaLife Center veterinary technician Jessica Davis carries a newborn otter pup patient into the Alaska SeaLife Center Veterinary clinic for an initial admit exam on Sept. 9, 2023. The otter pup was admitted to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program after witnesses watched orcas attack the pup’s mother. (Photo courtesy Peter Sculli/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai, Alaska on Sept. 21, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai, Alaska on Sept. 21, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A female northern sea otter rescued in Kenai on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, is seen at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Sea otter pup rescued in Kenai

The pup is the latest in an extensive roster of animals rescued this summer

A female northern sea otter rescued in Kenai on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, is seen at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Madison Kosma watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River at Cunningham Park on Saturday, April 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Local ‘community scientists’ monitor endangered beluga population

Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program trains volunteers to collect information about the Cook Inlet beluga population

Madison Kosma watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River at Cunningham Park on Saturday, April 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A Pacific walrus pup rests his head on the lap of an Alaska SeaLife Center staff member after being admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program on Aug. 1, 2023. Walruses are highly tactile and social animals, receiving near-constant care from their mothers during the first two years of life. To emulate this maternal closeness, round-the-clock “cuddling” is being provided to ensure the calf remains calm and develops in a healthy manner. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Rescued walrus calf dies of ‘multiple complications’

The calf had earned national attention for its unique prescription of “round-the-clock” cuddling

A Pacific walrus pup rests his head on the lap of an Alaska SeaLife Center staff member after being admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program on Aug. 1, 2023. Walruses are highly tactile and social animals, receiving near-constant care from their mothers during the first two years of life. To emulate this maternal closeness, round-the-clock “cuddling” is being provided to ensure the calf remains calm and develops in a healthy manner. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
A Pacific walrus pup rests his head on the lap of an ASLC staff member after being admitted to
the Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program on Aug. 1, 2023. Walruses are highly
tactile and social animals, receiving near-constant care from their mothers during the first two
years of life. To emulate this maternal closeness, round-the-clock “cuddling” is being provided to
ensure the calf remains calm and develops in a healthy manner. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Pacific walrus calf rescued, presents ‘rare opportunity’

He was spotted on the North Slope around 4 miles inland

A Pacific walrus pup rests his head on the lap of an ASLC staff member after being admitted to
the Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Program on Aug. 1, 2023. Walruses are highly
tactile and social animals, receiving near-constant care from their mothers during the first two
years of life. To emulate this maternal closeness, round-the-clock “cuddling” is being provided to
ensure the calf remains calm and develops in a healthy manner. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
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Rare white raven turns heads

An unusually colored raven has been turning heads around the central Kenai Peninsula for the last few weeks — standing out from the crowd with… Continue reading

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A harbor seal pup is treated by staff at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy Peter Sculli/Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center rescues 5 more harbor seal pups

The center currently has 9 pups in their care

A harbor seal pup is treated by staff at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy Peter Sculli/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Alaska SeaLife Center staff treat a harbor seal pup at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

Nikiski harbor seal rescued, 4th in a week

The female seal pup was seen on a crowded fishing beach

Alaska SeaLife Center staff treat a harbor seal pup at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)