Terrestrial Animals of Glacier Bay Black Bear Bald Eagle
Porcupine
Moose Moose are the tallest land animals in North America and love to eat willows found throughout Glacier Bay.
Wolf Several packs of wolves live in Glacier Bay. They are secretive, but it is thrilling to find their tracks on the beach or hear their howls at night.
Brown Bear Brown bears are found throughout Glacier Bay, but are often seen on beaches or barren mountainsides.
Black-legged Kittiwake Black-legged kittiwakes nest in colonies on barren cliffs and eat small fish and zooplankton. Their name comes from their frequent calls of "kittiwake" and their dark black legs.
Common Raven Ravens are the largest member of the corvid family, which includes jays and crows. These birds are very smart and can make hundreds of different vocalizations. They are omnivorous scavengers.
Mountain Goat The narrow bodies and special hooves of mountain goats help them move easily on steep cliffs. They eat lichen and other plants.
Marine Animals of Glacier Bay Glacier Bay National Park has many habitats for marine animals including a rich marine ecosystem, intertidal areas, and islands. Islands make great resting places for marine birds.
Humpback Whale Humpback whales migrate to Glacier Bay every summer to eat capelin and other small schooling fish. Many humpback whales return to the same bays and inlets every year.
Harbor Seal Harbor seals haul out on icebergs in Glacier Bay to give birth to their young. The icebergs are a safe place away from predators like orcas.
Harbor Porpoise Harbor porpoises are only 4-6' long and are very secretive. They may travel and feed alone or in small groups.
Marbled Murrelet Marbled murrelets are sea birds who pursue small fish through the water. Many murrelets spend the day in the waters of Glacier Bay and fly back to their nests in old growth forests with a fish for their chicks every night.
Tufted Puffin Tufted puffins nest in burrows on cliffs in Glacier Bay. They swim after small fish and can carry several at a time. Their bright beaks and yellow feather tufts are breeding plumage and are shed in the winter.
Stellar Sea Lion Stellar sea lions haul out on South Marble Island. While some sea lions bark, Stellar sea lions growl. Some large male sea lions develop a lot of muscle around their neck, like the mane of a lion.
Orca The tall dorsal fin of male orcas may be more than six feet tall. Females have a small triangular fin. Some orcas only eat fish, like salmon, and others feed only on marine mammals like harbor seals.
Sea Otter Sea otters have the densest pelt of any animal. They don't have blubber to keep warm and rely on their thick fur. Sea otters also eat to keep warm. Favorite foods include urchins, crabs, clams, and more.
Giant Pacific Octopus Giant Pacific octopus hatch from an egg the size of a grain of rice but can grow to be more than 200 pounds. They live mostly in water less than 330 feet deep. The skin of octopi can change color to match the environment. |
Last updated: March 12, 2018