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Admiralty Bear Guide
Cruises and Charters
Humpback Whales of Frederick Sound
During the summer months the Humpback whales congregate in Frederick Sound adjacent to Admiralty Island. The center of this area is approximately 45 miles, by water, northwest of Petersburg, Alaska. Large schools of herring and krill keep them here and the whales can be seen feeding on this food source. See them breach and blow and occasionally slap their fins on the surface. Humpbacks and occasionally Killer whales can also be seen enroute to and from Admiralty Island.
Of the estimated 6,000 humpback whales in the North Pacific, approximately 1,000 feed in Southeast Alaska during the summer. Nearly half of the Southeast Alaska feeding population, or approximately 500 whales, will enter the Frederick Sound area during the summer. They are after the very abundant herring and krill (shrimp-like crustaceans) which thrive in these waters. This makes Frederick Sound (See map) one of the best places in the world for observing the feeding behavior of humpback whales.
Steller sea lions, harbor seals, Dall's porpoise, and orcas (killer whales) are also frequently seen. The area contains two major and several minor sea lion haulouts. Sea lions and Humpback whales are often seen in the same feeding locations and interaction between these species is common. Harbor seals are seen both in the water and on the many rocky islets throughout the viewing area. A variety of sea birds are also present.
Kayaking:
Depending on your preference and your skill level you can kayak the open water with the whales or if you prefer calmer waters you can kayak with the bears. Kayaking is a lot of fun and a neat way to view wildlife without disturbing the animals.
You could be photographing a brown bear and hear a whale breaching in the distance. How awesome is that!
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