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Leo and Dorothy Keeler. Favorite Places
 The photographs for the eagle Screensvers were taken on the Kenai Peninsula. The Kenai Peninsula is known for the abundant runs of salmon that return to spawn in the areas' rivers and creeks. During these salmon runs the eagles can be in trees along the river and around lake shores. The eagles everywhere depend on the returning salmon as a major food source. Any stream or river with spawning salmon is a good potential for watching or photographing eagles. Bald eagles are protected by special legislation and stiff penalties are imposed for anyone harassing them. To avoid harassment, we suggest finding a group of spawning salmon, with eagles posed in the nearby trees, locate a spot where you can conceal yourself and sit back and wait for the eagles to approach you. If you are interested in finding out more about eagles, contact the Bird Learning and Treatment Center here in Anchorage, Alaska, or Alaska Department of Fish and Game. |
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 Many of the images in our Bears screensaver came from the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is such a special place that we have joined and become leaders of FRIENDS OF MCNEIL RIVER, an advocacy group working to protect these unique bears. The McNeil viewing program is operated by the State of Alaska, through a lottery drawing system for only 10 permits per day. This control of people, not bears, has allowed the bears to fully accept people in the area, to the point they will nurse their cubs within 20 feet of astonished viewers. Good bear viewing areas managed by the National Park Service include Brooks River, Katmai National Park, and Denali National Park . Viewing sites managed by the U.S. Forest Service include Pack Creek, brown bear viewing area on Admirality Island and Anan Bay, near Wrangell, Alaska. Though these areas are good viewing opportunities, they are also often crowded. Many Alaska tour operators or air charter services offer specialized bear viewing trips. One we know that has excellent service, knowledge of bears and where to find them is Kachemak Air Service, P.O. Box 1769, Homer, AK 99603, (907) 235-8924. Many of the images in our Great Gray Wolf screensaver came from Denali National Park. The gray wolf, being a predator, is very elusive and difficult to find. Wolves occur throughout Alaska and may be encountered on any back country adventure. Lately Denali National Park has become known as an area where wolves are commonly seen. Due to the Park's practice of using shuttle buses to transport people, the road system is not busy and is often used by wolves traveling to hunting areas or back to the den site to feed the puppies. Recently there has been a proliferation of pictures of wolf puppies being shown in calendars and special publications. Seldom are these photographys taken out in the wilds of Alaska or Canada. To avoid harassing young animals that could become abandoned or harmed in other ways, photographers will use animals that are born and raised in captivity to become movie stars for Walt Disney or other nature films. If you are lucky enough to see puppies in the wild, you really might be lucky enough for Ed McMann to call you as a sweepstakes winner. If you are interested in finding out more about wolves, contact Wolf Song of Alaska here in Anchorage, or the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
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