Random Facts I Learned at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

I recently visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for the first time.  I’ve always driven by and thought it was just for visitors who hadn’t yet gotten to see a moose.  Boy was I wrong – it was so cool!

From their website:

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, public education, and quality animal care. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals year-round and provides spacious enclosures and quality animal care. Animals that cannot be released into the wild are given a permanent home at the center.

More pictures are at the bottom of the post, but first here are some random facts I learned during my visit:

  1. Most of the animals reintroduced to the wild are moose.
  2. The moose “bell” (the thing hanging off a male moose’s neck that resembles a small turkey wattle) sometimes freezes solid and breaks off.
  3. The current bear enclosure is the biggest in the country (18 acres) and when the center finishes their new enclosure (complete with a boardwalk for better viewing!) it will be the biggest in North America.
  4. Musk ox practice ramming inanimate objects to prepare for their mating season.
  5. Although porcupines spend a lot of time in trees, they often fall and have numerous bone fractures.

If you get a chance, I highly recommend a visit to the center!

Author: Gretchen Fauske

I love Anchorage. I love what it is, what it's been, and what I dream it will be. I share my adventures with DJ (my husband), my fabulous family and friends, two frenchies named Grover and Teddy, and now, all of you. If you love Anchorage too, get in touch - guest posts are welcome!

2 thoughts on “Random Facts I Learned at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center”

  1. We went there with your mom last summer (after your wedding). We loved it too! I got some great pictures.

    1. Beautiful pictures. Now, if you rllaey want adventure along with your beautiful scenery, you should try for a trip to Antartica. I’ve never been there but my daughter and her husband took a month-long cruise/tour of Terra del Fuego, the Falklands, South Georgia Island and Antartica in Nov-Dec 1995. They were there mainly so my SIL could photograph birds and other wildlife of the areas. By viewing his photographs, I can pretend I’m right there with them.

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