wildlife

The waters of the Kenai River lap against the shore at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘BelugaCam’ livestreams set up at mouth of Kenai River

Cook Inlet belugas are one of five genetically distinct populations of beluga whales in Alaska

 

Alaska SeaLife Center Wildlife Response Team members treat a juvenile northern sea otter that was admitted for care on Nov. 16, 2024, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Kaiti Grant/courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

Sealife center admits juvenile sea otter

The juvenile otter was rescued from Seward with “significant” facial trauma

 

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Pacific walrus calf rehomed to SeaWorld Orlando

The calf was first discovered orphaned in Utqiagvik in July

 

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Attendees seek out endangered Cook Inlet belugas during Belugas Count! on the bluff above the Kenai River in Kenai on Saturday.

Counting the belugas in our backyard

Endangered Cook Inlet species the center of annual monitoring event

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Attendees seek out endangered Cook Inlet belugas during Belugas Count! on the bluff above the Kenai River in Kenai on Saturday.
Peperoncini swims out into the mouth of the Kenai River after being released from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Crowd gathers for rainy release of harbor seals

Four harbor seals were released from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program

Peperoncini swims out into the mouth of the Kenai River after being released from the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska SeaLife Center Animal Care Specialist Maddie Welch (left) and Veterinary Technician Jessica Davis (right) feeds the orphaned female Pacific walrus calf patient that arrived from Utqiagvik, Alaska on Monday, July 22, 2024. Walruses are rare patients for the Wildlife Response Department, with only eleven total and just one other female since the ASLC opened in 1998. Photo by Kaiti Grant

Female Pacific walrus calf admitted to Alaska SeaLife Center

The walrus calf, rescued from Utqiagvik, was admitted on July 22

Alaska SeaLife Center Animal Care Specialist Maddie Welch (left) and Veterinary Technician Jessica Davis (right) feeds the orphaned female Pacific walrus calf patient that arrived from Utqiagvik, Alaska on Monday, July 22, 2024. Walruses are rare patients for the Wildlife Response Department, with only eleven total and just one other female since the ASLC opened in 1998. Photo by Kaiti Grant
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Ben Meyer, environmental scientist and water quality coordinator for the Kenai Watershed Forum, teaches children about young salmon freshly pulled from Soldotna Creek during the Kenai River Fair at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 7, 2024.

Kenai River Fair debuts with array of activities and education

Previously called the Kenai River Festival, the newly refocused fair featured booths and activities dedicated to education about the outdoors, wildlife and ecosystems

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Ben Meyer, environmental scientist and water quality coordinator for the Kenai Watershed Forum, teaches children about young salmon freshly pulled from Soldotna Creek during the Kenai River Fair at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 7, 2024.
A harbor seal pup rescued from near the Copper River Delta is photographed at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center)

2 more seals admitted to SeaLife Center

Wildlife response team is now caring for six harbor seal pups

A harbor seal pup rescued from near the Copper River Delta is photographed at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center)
A seal pup rescued from the Kenai Beach is in the care of the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program in Seward, Alaska, on June 6, 2024. (Photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center)

2nd seal pup rescued in Kenai, ASLC now caring for 4

A second newborn seal was rescued on Kenai Beach and admitted by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program, now the fourth in the center’s… Continue reading

A seal pup rescued from the Kenai Beach is in the care of the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program in Seward, Alaska, on June 6, 2024. (Photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center)
A harbor seal pup rescued from near Kachemak Bay is treated by Wildlife Response Program staff at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center admits 2 more seal pups to wildlife response program

The newly rescued pups were found near Homer and Cordova

A harbor seal pup rescued from near Kachemak Bay is treated by Wildlife Response Program staff at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center)
Emerson Kapp, second-place winner of the 2023 Caring for the Kenai competition, shows participants how to use her project, the Kenai Peninsula Maze Board, during the Kenai River Festival on Friday, June 9, 2023, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River Fair to offer education, fun for free on June 8

Kenai Watershed Forum’s annual summer event gets new name, renewed focus on education

Emerson Kapp, second-place winner of the 2023 Caring for the Kenai competition, shows participants how to use her project, the Kenai Peninsula Maze Board, during the Kenai River Festival on Friday, June 9, 2023, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign marks the entrance of Centennial Park and Campground on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tree planting event set for Centennial Park

Planting trees in the area is a crucial method for protecting and rehabilitating the streambank, organizers say

A sign marks the entrance of Centennial Park and Campground on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dale Chorman stands with his wife, Dianne. (Photo provided by Tom Kizzia)

Long-time Homer resident, photographer dead after Sunday moose encounter

Troopers on Monday identified the victim as 70-year-old Dale Chorman

Dale Chorman stands with his wife, Dianne. (Photo provided by Tom Kizzia)
A sign warning of a June 28, 2021, bear attack is placed at the head of the Kenai River Trail on Skilak Loop Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Federal wildlife officers seek information about early-May black bear poaching

Officials think the poaching happened near the east entrance of Skilak Loop roughly 2 miles from Jims’ Landing

A sign warning of a June 28, 2021, bear attack is placed at the head of the Kenai River Trail on Skilak Loop Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A seal pup rescued from near Kenai beach is treated by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program on May 9, 2024. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center admits abandoned harbor seal pups

Both seals were found abandoned and malnourished, and both were born prematurely

A seal pup rescued from near Kenai beach is treated by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program on May 9, 2024. (Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
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

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

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

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)
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)