The Alaska SeaLife Center admitted a northern fur seal pup to the Wildlife Response Program on January 31, 2023. Fur seals are relatively uncommon wildlife response patients, and have not been cared for at the ASLC since 2017.   The female pup, estimated to be around six months old, was seen swimming erratically near the shore in Sitka, Alaska. Her abnormal behavior worried local residents, who reported the pup to the ASLC 24-hour stranding hotline (1-888-774-7325). Sitka is an unusual location to see northern fur seals this time of year, which raised concerns for her survival by ASLC staff. After receiving approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the animal was transported to the Center for treatment.   The main concerns found by the ASLC veterinary team upon the initial admit exam were dehydration, malnourishment, and signs of an unknown infection found in her bloodwork. Despite these concerns, she was observed to be active and alert when handled. The team found no evidence of severe physical trauma; however, noted that the pup seems smaller than average for her age. Staff are currently providing initial treatments and examining the patient further to understand more details about her condition.    The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from federal grants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. Those interested are encouraged to contribute to the care of rehabilitating marine animals here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of its Wildlife Response Program from companies like ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Matson, PetZoo, GCI, and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as The Stanley J. Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, and The NC Giving Fund.         

          WELCOME, TEACHERS! The Alaska SeaLife Center and COSEE-Alaska are excited to present "Southern Exposure", a virtual field trip (VFT) to one of the most remote regions on Earth. Join Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish and her team as they travel to Antarctica's McMurdo Sound to investigate how changing sea ice conditions may impact ice-dependent polar seals, like Antarctica's Weddell seals. GRADE LEVEL: 5th-8th TIME NEEDED: Between one and four 1-hour class periods (teachers may choose to use all or part of the supplementary lessons) NUTSHELL: Students will learn about animal physiology while exploring how changing sea ice conditions may affect ice-dependent Weddell seals. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completing this virtual field trip, students will be able to: - Highlight two ways that habitat conditions in the Arctic and the Antarctic are different - Define the term energy budget and explain how living things earn (gain) and use energy to meet the requirements of life - Describe the relationship between the depth of a seal's blubber and the animal's mass BACKGROUND: VIDEO: RESEARCH PROJECT PROMO Use this short research promo video to get your class excited about Southern Exposure. (0:56) In this virtual field trip, students will meet Drs. Jo-Ann Mellish, Markus Horning, and Allyson Hindle - a team of animal physiologists collaborating on a project about Antarctica's Weddell seals. Your students will follow Dr. Mellish's research team into the field as they work to answer the questions "What is the 'cost of living' for a polar seal?" and "How will the lives of these seals be impacted as their habitats continue to change?" This VFT can be used in a number of ways. Individuals may navigate through the pages on their own. Self-guided exploration can be completed in about an hour. Alternately, teachers may facilitate a structured experience, working through each page of the VFT together as a class. Lesson plans (included in the right-hand column of this page) are available to supplement online content. For a thorough introduction to Weddell seals, we recommend that teachers check out the PolarTrec webinar The Life Science of Weddell Seals with Dr. Jennifer Burns of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Though not affiliated with this project, Dr. Burns' presentation gives teachers a nice overview of current behavioral and physiological research on Weddell seals in Antarctica (40 minutes). TO USE THIS VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP YOU WILL NEED: - Internet access, video-streaming capabilities - Access to Southern Exposure - Projection system (with audio) to display content or a computer lab (with headphones) - Corresponding lesson plans (arranged as PDFs in the right-hand column of this page) UNABLE TO RUN THE STREAMING VERSION? REQUEST A FREE COPY OF ALL MATERIALS ON CD BY EMAILING: education@alaskasealife.org ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Weddell seal specific Resources : Weddell Seal Science Project, YouTube Channel ARKive Weddell Seal Species Profile General information about Sea Ice: National Snow and Ice Data Center: Sea Ice Introduction National Snow and Ice Data Center: Arctic Vs. Antarctic NASA Earth Observatory: Sea Ice Education Resources Related to Climate Change: NOAA Education Resources: Climate Change Impacts   Contact Us: If you have any questions about this virtual field trip, please contact the Alaska SeaLife Center Education Department at education@alaskasealife.org or 907-224-6306. For more information on classes we offer, including our inquiry-based Distance Learning programs, visit our website at www.alaskasealife.org.       LESSON PLANS Use the .pdf links below to access classroom activities for each section of the virtual field trip. Lesson Plan One.pdf Lesson Plan Two.pdf Lesson Plan Three.pdf Glossary.pdf Guide to Standards Addressed All research was conducted under National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Protection Act authorization 15748 and Antarctic Conservation Act permit 2012-003.           

animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()           Nearshore and benthic (bottom-dwelling) organisms are good gauges of change in the environment. Many are sedentary, sensitive to change, and easy to access for study. Scientists are usually more able to discover the source of change in this kind of habitat. Once those sources are found, they can identify and compare changes that are natural from those that are man-made. Click the image below to discover the different zones of the nearshore ecosystem. The Nearshore Ecosystems team collects data in the tidal areas. Researchers are focused on learning about the variety and abundance of the species living at sites in Prince William Sound, the outer Kenai Peninsula, and Lower Cook Inlet. This data will help scientists find answers for questions like: • Is the nearshore environment changing significantly from year to year? • Have resources in this environment recovered from the 1989 oil spill? If not, are there reasons other than the oil spill? • Are changes in offshore conditions also causing changes in the nearshore habitats? This project focuses on organisms that are considered crucial to the nearshore ecosystem’s health. One such key species is the black oystercatcher. These shorebirds are good candidates for monitoring projects because they have a long lifespan. Over that lifetime, the oystercatcher lives in and depends upon intertidal habitats. This is where they mate, nest, and raise their young. Even though black oystercatchers aren’t benthic animals, they eat a diet of creatures that are. Their menu of mussels, limpets, and chitons are easily effected by changes in the environment. If oystercatchers aren’t healthy, it probably means that something significant has happened to the shellfish that they eat. Click on the image below to learn more about the black oystercatcher, a critical species of the Nearshore Benthic Systems in the Gulf of Alaska project. Click the audio icon to hear the call of the black oystercatcher. Scientists, like the National Park Service’s Heather Coletti, are trying to address the following questions: • Are the numbers of black oystercatcher nests changing from year to year? • Is the number of eggs or chicks in each nest changing? • Are chicks supplied with the same variety and amount of food each year? • Does this data change from one location to another? Heather and her team monitor the habitat of black oystercatchers using a variety of methods, including the use of shoreline transects to survey nest sites and sample prey remains at oystercatcher nesting sites. VIDEO: Monitoring Nearshore Systems Heather Coletti describes her work studying black oystercatchers for the nearshore systems component of Gulf Watch Alaska. (1:50) Video Transcript The nearshore is that interface between the terrestrial system – land – and the oceans. And there are several influences from the ocean that meet at the nearshore and then we have anthropogenic and natural influences from the terrestrial, and in some heavily populated areas that’s pollution and runoff, and how the nearshore really is affected by all those influences. And it’s essentially where the densest human populations live, along the coasts. Our program is essentially monitoring the nearshore food web. So we start out at the sea grasses and algae, which are the primary producers of that system. And then we look at invertebrates – benthic invertebrates – whether it’s mussels, clams, limpets… And then we have surveys for higher trophic level predators, like your sea ducks, sea otters, sea stars. We monitor oystercatchers, which are a pretty charismatic shorebird that is essentially confined to the nearshore and the intertidal. They feed exclusively in the intertidal on benthic invertebrates. So that’s your mussels, your limpets, that’s their two primary food sources, but they’ll eat some barnacles and some worms. So we have several aspects of their biology that we are monitoring. The goal of any monitoring program is to look at change over time and understand change over time, what’s driving it and if there’s any way to predict what those outcomes may be. That’s ultimately the goal and we are in our first few years of monitoring, and right now looking at what the natural variation in these systems is like. That hasn’t been fully documented yet.       Who is watching the Gulf?   Abundance (n): the quantity or amount of something   Benthic (adj): pertaining to the seafloor and the organisms that live there   Data (n): values for something measured   Density (n): the number of inhabitants per unit of area   Distribution (n): the way in which something is spread over an area   Intertidal (n): the benthic shore area between the extreme reaches of high and low tides   Nearshore (n): the marine zone that extends from the high tide line to depths of about 20 meters   Organism (n): an individual life form   Prey (n): an animal taken by predators as food   Riparian zone (n): the area of land next to a lake, river, stream, or wetland   Subtidal (n): the benthic area below low tide that is covered by water most of the time and exposed briefly during extreme low tides   Tide (n): the alternate rising and falling of the sea at a particular place, due to the gravitional attraction of the moon and sun   Transect (n): a path along which scientists count animal populations and plant distributions    

animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('2', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() Who is watching walrus? CONTINENTAL SHELF - the area of shallow ocean water around the edge of a continent before the seabed slopes down into the deep ocean HAUL OUT (v) - to leave the water and rest on land, rocks, or floating ice HAULOUT (n) - a place where marine mammals leave the water to rest STAMPEDE - a sudden rush of many individuals, usually in a panic DISTURBANCE - when an animal or group of animals changes its behavior as a result an event           In the cold northern ocean between Alaska and Russia, freezing weather is possible during any month of the year. Throughout the long winter, temperatures in the Arctic are so cold that the surface of the ocean freezes for millions of square miles! Remarkably, animals like the Pacific walrus are adapted to live in this chilly climate, and they use sea ice as part of their habitat. In recent summers, scientists and local residents have noticed less sea ice than normal in the Arctic. In September 2009, sea ice in the Chukchi Sea melted past the edge of the continental shelf. As a result, 3,500 walruses who usually rest in small groups on floating sea ice were forced to haul out together on land at Icy Cape. Something startled the walrus while they were resting there. When startled, walrus will leave their haulout and rush into the water. As the huge group of walrus at Icy Cape rushed to the water, younger and smaller animals were trampled. Alaska SeaLife Center scientists and veterinarians were on the team that was sent to Icy Cape after the stampede. They found more than 130 young walrus dead on the beach. This dramatic scene sparked their interest in studying walrus. Land-based haulouts in the Chukchi Sea were first seen in the United States less than ten years ago. A walrus's choice to haul out on land is directly linked to the availablity of sea ice. If ice is available within their range, they will haul out on it. If ice is not available, they will haul out on land. Scientists fear that, if we continue to have summers with less-than-normal sea ice, events like the stampede at Icy Cape will become more common. Scientists at the Alaska SeaLife Center want to understand how walrus use these new land haulouts. They also want to learn how walrus will respond to disturbances while they are on land. The challenge is that walrus live in isolated, wild areas spread across a huge region. To study walrus, scientists must find a way to observe them closely without causing any disturbance events themselves. How will the scientists do it? Join our team as they come up with a plan. To get started, let's learn more about the Icy Cape stampede by checking out the videos and news release below. You'll be amazed how crowded the walrus haulouts can get! VIDEO: Icy Cape Stampede 2009 When large numbers of walrus haul out together on land, a disturbance event can mean disaster. This video, including images from the 2009 Icy Cape stampede, examines what can happen when walrus haul out on land in large groups. (1 minute) Video Transcript Over the past few decades, sea ice in the Arctic has been shrinking at increasing rates. When the ice recedes past the continental shelf, walrus females and calves are forced to leave the ice and haul out on shore to stay near their feeding grounds. As you can see in this video taken near Point Lay in 2011, conditions on shore can get very crowded. If the walruses are disturbed, they may rush to the water in a massive stampede. In September 2009 scientists observed thousands of walruses hauling out together on land near Icy Cape on the shore of the Chukchi Sea. When researchers surveyed the area a few days later, they found over 130 walruses dead on the beach. Veterinarians and scientists from the Alaska SeaLife Center and other organizations investigated the event and determined that most of the fatalities were young animals that had died as a result of a stampede. Though the cause of this disturbance at Icy Cape is unknown, the number of fatalities can be attributed to the crowded conditions at the haul out.   Click here for more information on walrus haulout events in Alaska's North Slope Borough, including the 2009 Icy Cape event.   Now that we've observed the same event that sparked the interest of our Alaska SeaLife Center marine mammal research team, let's learn more about Pacific walrus and what they need to survive.      

Special Experiences    Encounters are available for a single group at a time at a flat-rate price. General Admission must be purchased in addition. Members receive 20% off the regular price! Learn more. To book a reservation by phone please call 907-224-6300. For more information and questions, email onlinesales@alaskasealife.org.  Click on a experience for more details. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Limited space available. Tickets only valid for date selected.   Accessibility For guests needing accommodations, every effort will be made to allow participation in encounters. Some of our tours require walking on uneven surfaces, kneeling, walking up stairs, and standing for up to 45 minutes.  For the safety of both the service animal and our ASLC animals, service animals may not be present during behind-the-scenes animal encounters. If you require a service animal, please contact our visitor services team to learn about the best ways to participate in an encounter.  Please contact us at visit@alaskasealife.org if you have any questions about accessibility for any of our tours.                                                        Tickets only valid for date selected. Cancellation Policy To change or cancel your reservation, please call 888-378-2525 or email us at onlinesales@alaskasealife.org We encourage you to reschedule your reservation, if possible, as opposed to canceling. We will do our best to accommodate any changes.  1. 7 days or more in advance: no penalty, full refund or free rescheduling.  2. 2-6 days in advance: 50% of reservation refunded or free rescheduling. 3. Less than 48 hours in advance: no refund or rescheduling. All cancellations will be confirmed by phone or email.

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is saddened to share that Mist, a two-and-a-half-year-old Steller sea lion, unexpectedly passed away on January 23, 2023. The reason for her death is currently unclear. She appeared to experience seizure-like tremors and passed away within minutes of the episode. This is a heartbreaking loss for both the ASLC staff and the entire community.    The incident occurred January 23 while Mist and three other Steller sea lions were socializing in a new group setting. To mimic natural and social behaviors in the wild, Steller sea lion groupings change regularly at the ASLC, and staff always monitor animals in new situations closely. The introductions went well, and the animal care staff noted play and normal social behaviors throughout the morning.    Mist’s seizure-like tremors began suddenly and seemed unprompted. Due to the close monitoring protocol that day, an ASLC Mammalogist noticed the tremors as soon as they began and responded immediately. The other three Steller sea lions were shifted to another habitat so veterinary and animal care staff could tend to Mist safely. Though these staff arrived within minutes, Mist had unfortunately already become unresponsive.   A necropsy was performed the next day, but no immediate findings could explain the seizure-like tremors. Additional tissue samples were collected at the necropsy, and it could take several weeks for the samples to be processed and analyzed. Although ASLC staff are hoping for answers, the tests may never reveal the ultimate cause of her death.   Mist was born on June 26, 2020, to ASLC Steller sea lions Mara and Pilot. Mist was Mara’s first successful pup and the fifth successful Steller sea lion birth in the history of ASLC. Dr. Carrie Goertz, Director of Animal Health at the ASLC, recalls the special moments leading up to Mist’s birth in 2020, which  was featured on the second season of NatGeo WILD’s Alaska Animal Rescue.   “Waiting for Mist to be born is my most impactful memory of my time with her. It dominated my life in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. When she was born, it was such a joyous event in a crazy world and a crazy time,” said Goertz.    Many ASLC staff members watched Mist grow up, and she became an instant favorite for many guests visiting the ASLC.    “Mist was an animal who touched you immediately with her playful, clever, gregarious personality, and she was quickly a favorite for staff and guests alike. She was a bubbling force of energy and inquisitiveness with a nearly unrivaled level of potential, possessing a balance of intelligence, patience, and cleverness that was uniquely amazing to behold in one individual,” said Michelle Hanenburg, ASLC Mammal Curator.   Since the announcement of Mist’s passing, ASLC Staff members and Seward community members have offered moving tributes, memories, and condolences on a number of online platforms. ASLC Mammalogist Shelby Burman shared her own touching statement:   “I spend more time with these animals than my family, and losing one is unexplainable. I know every small child in the town of Seward will be saddened by this loss as well. To all the animal caregivers in this world, I see you and I feel you. This is the absolute worst part of this job."   The Alaska SeaLife Center is one of only three aquariums in North America that house Steller sea lions. Every Steller sea lion contributes to the understanding and knowledge base of their important species, making the loss of this two-and-a-half-year-old impactful for the entire population.    Update as of March 26, 2023: Unfortunately, a thorough necropsy did not lead to any concrete answers of what caused her seizure. A microscopic examination of Mist's tissues (known as a histopathology report) also did not reveal a cause. Not having a clear answer is incredibly hard for the ASLC staff. We will continue to explore possibilities with professional colleagues, but we may never know what caused her episode. We thank you all for your support over the past few weeks as we mourn the loss of an incredible animal.      About Steller Sea Lions Steller sea lions are the largest member of the eared seal family. The species ranges across the northern Pacific Ocean, from Japan through the Aleutian Islands and southeast Alaska to northern California. Divided into eastern and western regions, the western population is currently listed as endangered, while the eastern population was delisted in 2013 following notable recovery and significant conservation efforts.    

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) admitted a premature harbor seal pup to the Wildlife Response Program on May 8, 2025.   The male harbor seal was found on a remote beach in Kenai, Alaska, and it was evident that no mother was in the area. The pup was prematurely born, as indicated by his white lanugo coat, and the ASLC team knew he likely wouldn’t survive without immediate intervention. After receiving approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ASLC volunteers recovered the pup, and the animal was transported to the ASLC.   During this initial admit exam, staff found the pup was likely born that day and should not have been alone so soon after birth. The team is currently providing initial stabilizing treatments and examining the patient further to understand the severity of the animal’s condition. Premature harbor seal pups have only about a 50% chance of survival when admitted to a wildlife response program, and the team is providing intensive care to give this pup the best possible chance. In April 2025, the ASLC admitted another harbor seal pup born prematurely, which did not survive due to complications from underdeveloped organs that could not support life.   Harbor seal pups typically shed their white lanugo coat in utero before being born, so any time a pup of this species is seen with sections of fluffy white coat, it indicates that it was born prematurely. This visual clue helps responders quickly assess a harbor seal pup’s age, but it’s important to note that not all white-coated seal pups are premature.   Ice seal pups, like spotted and ringed seals, are born with white lanugo coats and do not shed them for four to six weeks after birth. Location helps experts know which species of seal pup they are looking at in Alaska. Typically, the ice seal species born with a white lanugo coat are found in the northern half of Alaska’s coastline, while harbor seals are found along the southern half of Alaska’s coastline.   Pupping season for harbor seals has begun, and the ASLC Wildlife Response team remains ready to help any marine animal in need in Alaska. This is typically the busiest time of year for the team as they prepare for an influx of calls about abandoned or injured pups in need of help.  The Alaska SeaLife Center responds to reports of stranded and injured marine mammals across the state. If you encounter a marine animal in distress, call the 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL (7325). We encourage all Alaskans and visitors to save this number in their phone contacts—and remember, always call first before approaching any stranded or injured wildlife.   The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. People are encouraged to contribute to the care of rehabilitating marine animals here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, and the NC Giving Fund.    

Orphaned Otter Pup and Two Seal Pups Join Growing Patient List at Alaska’s Only Permanent Marine Mammal Rehab Facility The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has admitted three new patients in just four days, including an orphaned male sea otter pup from Homer on June 23. In addition, two orphaned harbor seal pups were admitted — a harbor seal pup from Nikiski on June 20, followed by another harbor seal pup from Juneau on June 23. The pup from Nikiski is currently receiving veterinary treatment, and the pup from Juneau, the smallest and most underweight patient admitted so far this season, did not make it despite intensive care efforts. Including the most recent admits, there are now 12 animals in rehabilitative care at the ASLC, with many still in critical condition and receiving life-saving veterinary care.  “We’ve had busy seasons before, but this is a notable number of admits early on in the season,” said Jane Belovarac, ASLC Wildlife Response Curator and Licensed Veterinary Technician. “With harbor seal pupping season continuing through mid-July, we’re staying prepared. We don’t yet know what the coming weeks will bring.” As Alaska’s only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility, the ASLC plays a vital role in responding to orphaned and injured marine animals from across the state’s vast and remote coastlines. Every case requires coordination, expertise, and long-term commitment from the ASLC’s small but dedicated team. One of the most recent examples of that commitment came just days ago, when a young sea otter pup was found stranded near Homer, Alaska. A community member spotted the pup alone on a beach in Homer and called ASLC’s 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline. The pup was found unusually far from the water during low tide, and his mother was nowhere in sight. After hours alone, birds began to approach the vulnerable pup, and the team knew they needed to act. With authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the ASLC Wildlife Response Team coordinated the pup’s safe transport to Seward for immediate care. In their earliest weeks of life, sea otter pups are entirely dependent on their mothers for survival. Mothers provide near-constant care, including feeding, grooming, and maintaining the pup’s coat to ensure it stays clean and waterproof, which is critical for staying warm and buoyant. When a pup is orphaned, these responsibilities fall to the ASLC’s Wildlife Response Team, which is currently providing round-the-clock care to give the recently admitted pup the strongest chance at survival. “We believe this pup is about two weeks old, and is now under 24/7 care and showing encouraging signs,” said Jane Belovarac, Wildlife Response Curator at ASLC. “He’s alert, taking the bottle well, and has already started practicing holding his breath while in the water, which is a great early milestone. His temperature and glucose levels are stable.  As his body adjusts to drinking formula, we are watching him closely for signs of constipation, which is always a challenge for pups transitioning to new food.” This pup joins another female sea otter pup rescued from Homer earlier this month, who continues to make steady progress. The female pup has now been given the name Un’a, which means “that out in the open water” in the language of the Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people. It’s a fitting name, they say, for a special pup who has shown strong resilience in her recovery.    Un’a remains under close observation for a front limb injury that is slow to heal. While obvious on radiographs, it does not appear to bother her, and she is using the limb normally. Her energy levels are improving, and she frequently engages with enrichment toys, dives deep in her pool, and eats solid foods — all positive signs that she’s meeting milestones in her development. For updates on all 12 of the patients currently admitted, follow the Alaska SeaLife Center on Instagram and Facebook at @AlaskaSeaLifeCenter. Our team is busy providing top-notch care to patients, but we’ll share updates as often as we can.  Call First! If you encounter a stranded or injured marine animal in Alaska, contact ASLC’s 24-hour Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL(7325). Do not approach or attempt to move the animal. The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can only provide care for stranded and injured marine animals with help from corporate sponsors and individual donors. Supporters can help provide vital care for marine animals in need by donating at www.alaskasealife.org/donate.      The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from supporters like ConocoPhillips Alaska, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Partners 4 Wildlife, Matson, GCI,  and a number of individual donors, funds, and foundations such as Stanley J Williams Fund, Mesara Family Foundation, M. E. Webber Foundation, The Theresa Bannister Fund, and the NC Giving Fund.       

animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         MEET DR. MARKUS HORNING Pinniped Ecologist and Associate Professor at Oregon State University WHAT HE STUDIES: - Diving animal behavior - Life history of diving animals EDUCATION: Ph.D. Zoology Diploma Degree Biology HOMETOWN: Rome, Italy ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT WORKING IN ANTARCTICA IS... "Antarctica is as close as we as humans can get to see what it might be like to work on a different planet. It's almost like being out in a different world entirely. [When working on the sea ice,] you're out in the middle of nowhere. There's only ice and cold and blue and white, and crazy animals you never see anywhere else around you. It's amazing!"  Dr. Horning talks about Antarctic working conditions - and imitates a Weddell seal! (1:07) Video Transcript Dr. Markus Horning: "There's also something really unique though about the Antarctic and paradoxically makes the seals that we work with, to us, more accessible. We actually spend most of our time at sea, even though we’re driving around Ski-Doos because the sea is frozen, but then literally the seals are underneath us as we’re walking around on the sea ice and the seals are doing their thing and they come back to the surface and they’re right next to us. And they make amazing sounds and you hear the sound through the ice." Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish: "I think you need to make the sound for us." Dr. Allyson Hindle: "Markus makes amazing seal sounds." *Dr. Markus Horning imitates seal sounds* *Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish and Dr. Allyson Hindle applaud* *Video footage with audio of seals under ice*   WHO IS STUDYING SEALS?    

Seward, Alaska (June 2, 2016) – Healthy oceans are vital for marine wildlife, and Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) will join people around the world on Wednesday, June 8—World Oceans Day—to bring renewed focus to that message and the day’s theme: Healthy oceans, healthy planet. To celebrate this event, ASLC will open its new underwater viewing exhibit, Nose 2 Nose: imagination and science will take you everywhere, provide fun activities for the whole family, and offer membership specials on June 8 and every Saturday in June. World Oceans Day activities for all ages will be available on June 8 from 9:00am to 5:00pm and include an opportunity to shake wings with Tuffy the Puffin (11:00am, 1:00pm, & 3:00pm), embark on the Ocean Quest game to actively explore exhibits, culminating in a tasty reward, and post a World Oceans Day pledge selfie to the ASLC Facebook page. Alaska author Barbara Brovelli-Moon will also join ASLC to celebrate the day and will be in the gift shop from 10:00am to 2:00pm to sign her fun, educational activity books, “Marine Mammals of Alaska for Children” and “Land Mammals of Alaska: A Field Guide for Children.” Additionally, a number of fun, multi-sensory activities will be available throughout the new Nose 2 Nose marine life exhibit on a daily basis, during regular ASLC hours. Nose 2 Nose enhances the underwater viewing area with a new Octopus Grotto where visitors can walk (or crawl) inside, see amazing fish models handcrafted by Alaska taxidermist Tom Kaiser, and learn more about resident octopuses and other marine dwellers. The exhibit also offers an array of interpretive installations and fun activities for the entire family. In addition to seeing eye-to-eye with octopuses, sea lions, seals, and a number of fish and bird species, Nose 2 Nose visitors will be invited to: •    Accept the Sea Ice Challenge, and hop from floe to floe •    Create an underwater symphony •    Make like a seal and try the Seal Hop, a Native Youth Olympics sport •    Become a marine real estate agent Crawl through the octopus cave, meet a pinniped friend, and discover sea stars, sea lions, fish, diving birds, and more in Alaska SeaLife Center’s new Nose 2 Nose exhibit. .. Visitors will also not want to miss the wild sea lion cam. Pupping season has begun on Chiswell Island and visitors will want to check the Nose 2 Nose gallery monitor for any new pups that may be ready for their close up! The new exhibit Coastal Impressions: A Photographic Journey Along Alaska’s Gulf Coast will be open for visitors to explore, as well. On loan from the Nature Conservancy, this beautiful photography display is part of the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council’s (CIRCAC) ShoreZone mapping project, and features select stunning large format images taken during the inventory of Alaska’s coastal biological and geological habitats. Sponsored by CIRCAC and developed in partnership with Auke Bay Laboratories of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the Alaska ShoreZone Program, this exhibit not only provides vital biological and geographical information on Alaska, but also allows visitors a window to areas of the state that few are fortunate enough to see. In addition to exploring exhibits and activities, visitors will want to be sure to set their watches for the marine animal feedings scheduled on June 8! •    Sea lion feeding (second floor, sea lion habitat)         9:00am & 2:30pm •    Seal feeding (second floor, seal habitat)                     9:45am & 4:30pm •    Bird broadcast feeding (second/first floors, aviary)    11:45am, 3:00pm, & 4:00pm There is still more on the docket! Fascinating and informative presentations by ASLC staff will continue to be available daily in the galleries throughout June and July, including: •    Bird keeper presentation (second floor, aviary)                                               10:00am •    Pinniped presentation (first floor, Arctic Theater)                                            12:00pm •    ASLC Wildlife Response Program presentation (first floor, Arctic Theater)    3:30pm Additionally, Sea Otter Encounter, Puffin Encounter, Marine Mammal Encounter, and Octopus Encounter tours, as well as Behind the Scenes tours, continue to be available daily throughout the summer. Reservations are recommended for all encounters and tours (1-888-378-2525) and age restrictions apply. Alaska SeaLife Center hours through September 4, 2016, are: Friday – Saturday – Sunday                                8:00am – 9:00pm Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday     9:00am – 9:00pm About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.   High resolution photos and more information available from media@alaskasealife.org, 907-224-6334.  

Seward, Alaska (May 24, 2019) –The Summer season begins at the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) today with longer hours, new tours, and more on the floor programming. Summer hours until August 18 are:   Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Friday – Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm ASLC is excited to offer additional programming included in the general admission ticket. These daily programs will highlight the vital mission work of the Alaska SeaLife Center. Guests will have the chance to engage with staff as they care for our animals and do a special presentation. More information and a full schedule of our daily programs are on ASLC's website, www.alaskasealife.org. Included in these daily programs are: Meet the Center’s award-winning Education team at an Education Station. Guests will be able to learn more about species of Alaska, including marine mammals, invertebrates, and more. During a SCUBA Chat: Divers Included watch ASLC divers in action and learn more about their underwater work. Chat with ASLC Scientists during a Get “Down” with the Ducks presentation. Learn about the eider program and the fantastic qualities duck feathers can bring to a breeding season. Keeper Chats with our avian keepers will give visitors a glimpse into the animal care taking place at the Center. From learning about the gossip of the aviary to getting new fun facts about the birds, guests will leave with further found information. A fan favorite, Sea Lion or Seal Feedings will take place twice daily. Guests can watch as their favorite species get their daily meal, while talking with an expert. Visitors can see and learn about how ASLC adopts techniques developed for domestic animals to wild animals during a Vet Chat. Learn from our aquarium team about some of our exhibits and their inhabitants during a Feeding the Fish presentation. Not only will there be daily programs, but summer encounters and experiences are back by popular demand. Explore more at ASLC with opportunities like:  Shake “hands” with a giant Pacific octopus in the Octopus Encounter, and learn more about these mysterious and intelligent invertebrates. This 60-minute tour is offered daily at 1:00 pm and can accommodate a maximum of 5 people per tour, with a minimum age of 6 years old. Octopus Encounter tours are $74.95 per person. On a Puffin Encounter, meet our resident birds and participate in feeding in the aviary. This 60-minute tour is daily at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm and can accommodate a maximum of 4 people, with a minimum age of 10 years old. Puffin Encounter tours are $74.95 per person. The Behind the Scenes Tour is guided walking tour through the Alaska SeaLife Center's back hallways and familiarizes guests with the scientific research, wildlife response, and other marine science programs. This 60-minute tour is offered daily at 1:30 pm, and 4:30 pm and can accommodate a maximum of 12 people, with a minimum age of 12 years old. Behind the Scenes, tours are $14.95 per person. Sea Otter Experience tours will be offered twice a day: 12:30 pm and 7:00 pm. Join animal caregivers to observe a feeding or animal enrichment session in the outdoor otter pool. This 30-minute tour can accommodate up to 14 people per tour and open to all ages. The Sea Otter Experience is $24.95 each for ages 13 and older, and $19.95 each for ages 6-12. Octopus Experience tours give guests a chance to immerse themselves in a world of suckers, tentacles, and beaks while observing an octopus feeding. This 30-minute tour can accommodate up to 14 people per tour and open to all ages. The Octopus Experience is $24.95 each for ages 13 and older, and $19.95 each for ages 6-12. The Center recommends making reservations for all encounters and tours, call 1-888-378-2525. All tours and encounters require the purchase of general admission. Current general admission prices are available online. Tickets to the Alaska SeaLife Center support expert animal care, scientific research, and wildlife rescue. About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and a public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org. High-resolution photos and video available from media@alaskasealife.org or 907-224-6334.

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is preparing for a busy summer season as the new Rocky Coast Discovery Pools open. This past Saturday, May 29, the Center saw 1,713 visitors pass through the facility, a record number for May for at least the past fifteen years. Visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time to guarantee their date and time of entry. Saturdays in particular are booking up fast; last weekend the entrance wait time for walk-ins reached 2 hours. Ticket reservations: www.alaskasealife.org/tickets  While the increased tourism is welcomed, the team is still working to keep people safe by requiring masks and managing capacity. “We are grateful for the attendance level we are experiencing after a difficult 2020. While we can handle an increase in visitation, we must prioritize safety for both people and animals by continuing mask use and encouraging social distancing,” explains Tara Riemer, ASLC President and CEO. She continued, “Many of our younger guests under age 16 have not had the chance to become fully vaccinated, and their safety is of utmost importance.”  The recent opening of the Rocky Coast Discovery Pools is also expected to attract even more visitors. Phase one of the new 1,100 gallon exhibit build offers guests a hands-on opportunity to explore Alaskan fish and invertebrate species in 6 pools. ASLC is thankful to the contributors of this new exhibit: ConocoPhillips Alaska, First National Bank Alaska, Matson, Petro Marine Services, Shoreside Petroleum, and the Lindsey Family.   About ASLC: Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org or find us on Facebook.   

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) admitted a two-day-old sea otter pup to the Wildlife Response Program on August 8.   The female pup was found stranded on a remote beach in Seldovia by a family camping nearby. “When we enco untered this tiny creature who looked so helpless, we felt that we had to do something. We remembered hearing that the Alaska SeaLife Center helps to rescue animals in need, so we reached out. Luckily we had cell service where we were camping,” explains the pup’s rescuers, Neil Waggoner and Marisa Jaso. An adult sea otter was spotted in the area, but this animal did not approach the pup. After observing the pup for a day, the family sprung into action.   After receiving U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permission, the team at ASLC reached out to stranding partner, Michael Opheium of the Seldovia Village Tribe, for assistance. He cared for the otter overnight until she could be transported via water taxi to Homer the following day. The Homer Veterinary Clinic was called upon to administer fluids before her long car ride to Seward.    This sea otter pup, weighing just under three pounds, arrived weak but fairly stable. The team was concerned about her initially because generally sea otter pups are very vocal, but this pup arrived more lethargic and silent. “Otter pups are very hands-on animals to begin with so seeing this young pup come out of the kennel, barely reacting to staff, was concerning. After her exam it was crucial to get some calories on board and thankfully she latched onto the bottle right away. She has been eating well since then, so I am cautiously optimistic,” states Hanna Sundstrom, Veterinary Assistant Specialist. After a few days of care, the pup has brightened, but the veterinary team is continuing to monitor her closely.    While eight harbor seal pups are currently being cared for at the Center, this is the first sea otter pup admitted to the Wildlife Response Program in 2021. Sea otter pups require round-the-clock care so staffing will change drastically in the rehabilitation department in order to feed and groom her every two hours. The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program can provide care for animals like this sea otter pup because of donations from corporate sponsors and individual donors. People are encouraged to contribute to the care of this patient here: www.alaskasealife.org/donate. The Center acknowledges the ongoing generous support of the Wildlife Response Program from  companies like ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, PetZoo, Borman Family Foundation, GCI, and Sea Otter Foundation & Trust.    About ASLC  Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.    

Join us for this week-long virtual fundraising event!    Sitting at the doorstep of the glacier-carved Kenai Fjords National Park and surrounded by a network of science-based partners, the Alaska SeaLife Center is uniquely positioned to study the region’s seabirds. Our avian team pairs field surveys with controlled studies of resident flocks to reveal how seabirds shape – and are shaped by – a changing environment, while providing hands-on opportunities for students and citizen scientists in our community. With a small gift, you can join this network and support research that guides conservation, informs husbandry, and inspires a new generation of seabird stewards and scientists.     Our "Roundup" event is held each fall on the Alaska SeaLife Center’s social media pages, and this year, we're focusing on our seabird research efforts at the ASLC.    Fans and followers from around the world can learn more about the critical seabird research being done at the ASLC with daily social media posts on Facebook and Instagram.  We hope these stories inspire donations that will benefit a mission-critical program at the Center. This week only (September 15 - 21, 2025) Become a Seabird Steward by donating $25 or more and receive a limited-edition seabird research supporter sticker! Join our flock of seabird stewards and help protect these incredible birds: Donate today!    This year's sticker, created by one of our talented in-house graphic designers:  A preview of the stories:  Photostory: Puffin Poop with a Puspose Blog: Kittlitz's Murrelet and the Kenai Fjords   Video: Voluntary Research with ASLC Common Murres Video: Part 1: Resurrection Bay Seabird Surveys | On the Water with ASLC Seabird Researchers! Video: Part 2: Resurrection Bay Seabird Surveys | The Importance of Long-term Data Collection

animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         It’s October - springtime in the Antarctic. And on the Ross Sea, it’s pupping season. The world’s southernmost-breeding mammals, the Weddell seals, are hauled out on the fast ice of McMurdo Sound. The temperature hovers near zero degrees Fahrenheit. The surface of the sea remains frozen for miles. The only breaks in the ice are tidal cracks and breathing holes that the seals have carved out with their teeth. As the summer progresses and brings with it continuous daylight, the sea ice covering this area will begin to fracture and melt. For now, though, the ice is solid and the frozen landscape is dotted with female seals and their pups.  Weddell seals are uniquely adapted to survive life in this polar habitat. Just like their phocid (seal) relatives in the Arctic, these seals have thick blubber that insulates their bodies from the frigid climate. Still, life in this extreme environment isn’t easy!  VIDEO: LIFE IN THE ANTARCTIC Learn about the extreme Antarctic conditions Weddell seals are adapted to live in. (2:20) Video Transcript Measuring over 10 feet (3 meters) from head to flippers and weighing in at more than 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms), Weddell seals are a hardy bunch. And it’s a good thing! These marine mammals live in one of the world’s harshest environments: the Antarctic. Antarctica is often described as seeming like an alien planet. It certainly isn’t like anywhere else on Earth! 98% of the Antarctic continent is covered with ice, but the ice doesn’t stop at the land’s edge. Winter conditions in this area are severe enough that the sea surface freezes solid over much of the Southern Ocean. This sea ice is important habitat for wildlife, including Weddell seals. During the austral spring and summer it provides a safe place for the seals to haul out of the near-freezing water to rest and give birth to their pups. Although Antarctica receives 24-hour daylight in the summertime, it is definitely not a warm place to relax! Summer air temperatures in McMurdo Sound average about 26° Fahrenheit (-3° Celsius). In the winter, air temperatures can be as low as -58°F (-50°C). During these months, seals migrate out to sea where they forage near the ice edge. Because of the extreme air temperatures, seals spend all winter in the water, only surfacing to breathe. Recently, many people living and working in the Arctic have observed significant and measureable changes in the region’s climate. Because Antarctica has no permanent human population, far fewer people are aware that similar dramatic changes have been recorded in the Antarctic as well. Around Antarctica temperatures are warming. Coastal ice shelves have lost huge volumes of ice as massive pieces have broken away and melted. At the same time, some areas of the continent have been experiencing increased winter sea ice extent. Researchers hope to learn more about the lives of Weddell seals in Antarctica so they can gain a better understanding of how ice seals in both the Antarctic and Arctic might adapt to their changing environments. While environmental changes have presented themselves differently in the Arctic and Antarctic, one common theme is that conditions have become less predictable. Just as dealing with an unpredictable situation can be hard for a person, adapting to an unpredictable environment can be challenging for an animal. For Weddell seals, whose migration, foraging habits, and breeding activities are dependent on specific sea ice conditions, such unpredictable conditions could have negative impacts. Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish is a Marine Mammal Scientist.  She and her research team want to understand how hard it is to be a polar seal. In particular, they're curious to know how seals stay warm in such cold environments. Understanding how Weddell seals are able to survive in their environment will help the scientists begin to predict how seals at both poles may be impacted by changing environmental conditions. VIDEO: INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH PROJECT Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish explains why the team is interested in studying polar seals. (1:56) Video Transcript Jo-Ann Mellish: “It was one of those cases where one question leads to another question. I was on a previous project on McMurdo Sound, with Weddell seals. We were down there for a couple years, and as we were there there were a lot of issues with the sea ice. There was some very thick, very old, multi-year sea ice. There were some icebergs around and it was impacting water patterns and ice patterns. In addition to that, everywhere in the news it’s ice change in the Arctic. “So you’ve got ice changing in very different ways at either end of the Earth, but the common factor is that you’ve got these seals that depend on the ice for where they breed; where it impacts very strongly, how they get to their breeding sites. These ice-obligate seals are at both poles, there’s ice changing at both poles, but nobody has ever looked at how much energy it costs just to be a seal in these environments. “One of the common themes in biology is that if an animal lives in a place, you assume that it’s adapted. But what happens if that habitat that the animal lives in starts to change? How much flexibility does that animal have to adapt to the change? Maybe there’s a lot, maybe there’s this huge buffer zone. Maybe there’s a teeny-tiny buffer zone. You kind of assume that these animals at the ends of the earth might have a teeny-tiny buffer zone. “Nobody knows what that buffer zone is. So what we wanted to do was actually document the cost of living in a polar seal. “   The research described in Southern Exposure was funded by the Office of Polar Programs, Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems, National Science Foundation, Award #1043779. All research was conducted under National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Protection Act authorization 15748 and Antarctic Conservation Act permit 2012-003.  Unless otherwise noted, the videos in this virtual field trip are courtesy of Jo-Ann Mellish, John Skinner, Henry Kaiser, or the Alaska SeaLife Center.   WHO IS STUDYING SEALS?   FAST ICE (n) - sea ice that is attached to the shore   TIDAL CRACK (n) - a broken area of sea ice caused by movement of the tides   ADAPT (v) - to change behaviors or physical traits to survive in a specific environment   POLAR (n) - describing the area of the Earth’s surface around the north and south poles   PHOCID (n) - the scientific family name for true (earless) seals   ICE SHELF (n) - a floating sheet of ice, attached to a landmass   AUSTRAL (adj) - of or relating to the southern hemisphere   MIGRATION (n) - movement from one area to another   FORAGE (v) - to search for and collect food   THERMOREGULATION (n) - the ability to maintain a constant body temperature under changing conditions   HYPOTHESIS (n) - a proposed explanation to a question that must be tested   PHYSIOLOGY (n) - a branch of biology dealing with the study of how living things function      

  animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         Thousands of individual animals died as a result the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Some died soon after contact with the oil. Others died more slowly as a result of the toxins. It is difficult to measure how animal populations continue to be affected by contact with oil after the cleanup. The long-term harm from chronic exposure to the chemicals in oil remains a problem in some areas, especially where oil can still be found under rocks. Since 1990, scientists have been gathering data about locations where oil continues to linger, as well as the movement of toxic chemicals throughout the Prince William Sound ecosystem. The Lingering Oil project is studying the recovery of harlequin duck and northern sea otter populations in Prince William Sound because there are long-term health concerns for both of these populations. The Gulf Watch Alaska team is collecting data by taking samples in both oiled and non-oiled sites in Prince William Sound. Click on the images below to learn more about these two species. Scientists use a variety of skills to capture ducks and otters in order to collect tissue samples. These methods are designed to safely capture the animals and then release them unharmed. According to Dr. Esler, “It might not be the greatest day for the animals, [but] their long-term survival is not compromised.” To capture harlequin ducks, the team uses a floating mist net. This net sits above the water like an invisible wall. As the ducks come in for a landing, they are trapped in the net. Researchers can then safely remove the ducks and take them to the veterinarian for sampling. Capturing sea otters is a bit more challenging. These cute and fuzzy creatures are, in fact, the largest member of the weasel family (the Mustelids). This is a group of animals who are not known for their sweet and cuddly personalities. Think of a sea otter as a floating badger or wolverine! Watch the video below to see divers use a Wilson Trap to safely capture and handle sea otters for sampling. VIDEO: Capturing Sea Otters United States Geological Survey (USGS) video showing how divers use Wilson traps to capture sea otters in the wild. (3:53) Video Transcript (This video contains music and some ambient sounds but no dialogue.) Watch the video below to learn more about the scientists' field work as they monitor the effects of lingering oil in Prince William Sound. VIDEO: Lingering Oil Dan Esler describes how scientists are studying the effects of lingering oil on harlequin ducks and sea otters. (1:48) Video Transcript The lingering oil studies occur in western Prince William Sound, which is where the oil from the Exxon Valdez oil spill landed, and actually there’s still some oil out there today – small pockets of oil that’s buried in sediments on beaches, throughout western Prince William Sound. So that’s where the lingering oil issues are still important to track. From the USGS perspective, we’re looking at effects of that lingering oil on wildlife. So considering effects of exposure to that lingering oil, and also to understand what that might mean to individuals and populations of the wildlife that live out there. The main species that we’re thinking about in terms of lingering oil are harlequin ducks and sea otters, and that’s because there’s a long history of understanding that lingering oil’s been an important constraint on population recovery of those two species, and so we’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand the timeline and the mechanisms by which those species are recovering from the oil spill. We’ve measured exposure in a number of different ways. For example, with harlequin ducks we’ve used an enzyme called cytochrome P450 1A. It’s a long word basically for an enzyme that gets induced when any vertebrate’s exposed to hydrocarbons. So if you and I were exposed to oil, we would have an induction of that enzyme that would be measurable and then could tell us whether one has been exposed to that. The enzyme itself is part of a cascade of physiological processes that any vertebrate goes through once they’ve been exposed to oil. And it could be indicative of physiological harm, or it could be indicative of just exposure without physiological harm. So we’re not inferring harm from induction of the enzyme, what we’re inferring is that they’re still exposed to oil with the potential for harm.         Who is watching the Gulf?   Concentration (n): the amount of something in a specific place or given volume   Recovery (n): a return to a normal state of health   Tissue sampling (n): various procedures to obtain bodily fluids, muscle, skin, fur or feathers for testing  

animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('2', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() Who is watching walrus? REMOTE (adj) - far from cities. In Alaska, this almost always means a place that is not on the road system and can only be reached by boat, plane, dogsled, snowmachine, or helicopter. DURATION (n) - the length of time CENSUS (n) - a count of individuals METHOD (n) - the way information is collected STILL CAMERA (n) - a camera that takes photos (not video) COST EFFECTIVE (adj) - worth the price MARITIME (adj) - related to marine (ocean) environments or conditions           The Plan Figuring out how to observe walrus at land haulouts was a challenge for the research team. Their system needed to be: Low cost Low maintenance (because sites are in remote locations) Able to measure duration (from the first walrus to arrive to the last walrus to leave) Able to visually observe the presence of walrus and allow for a census count Able to observe the cause(s) of possible disturbances Minimally disruptive to the animals While brainstorming, many methods were considered. The team thought about using airplanes to fly over haulout sites. They considered asking locals to report observations or stationing their own research staff near haulouts throughout the entire summer season. Finally, the team talked about placing remote video or still cameras at known haulout locations. The pros and cons for each method were evaluated. Flying over sites would be expensive and time consuming because the range of Pacific walruses covers thousands of miles. The sound of low flying planes might also disturb the animals. Local observations are impossible in many areas because haulouts are so remote. And stationing field researchers at known haulouts all season could prove very expensive. In the end, the team concluded that setting up remote cameras was the most cost-effective choice. They also decided that using still cameras set on timers would let them get the most data about how walrus were using land haulouts. Watch the two videos below to learn about the equipment Dr. Polasek's team used and some of the challenges they had to deal with while designing a plan to observe walrus using remote cameras. VIDEO: Equipment But won’t it get wet? Terril Efird talks about the equipment the team chose and how they keep it dry and functioning in the maritime climate. (1 minute) Video Transcript What equipment are you using to study walruses in remote areas? This is an example of one of the camera setups that we’ll have out in the field. It’s a Nikon digital camera, eight megapixel camera, and that’s wired into a 12-volt battery to keep it charged. A lot of these cameras will be going out for months at a time, so keeping the battery charged is really important, and to do that we’ll have a solar panel out there that will charge the larger battery. We’ll put the camera inside of this weatherproof and waterproof housing, and that’ll keep everything nice and dry so the electronics don’t fry while we’re out there. And we’ll have two of these at each of the sites, one looking at the haulout and then another one just looking offshore to see if we can capture any boats or predators of walrus that might be coming by and see how the walrus respond to that. VIDEO: Challenges Terril Efird describes some of the challenges involved in monitoring walrus. (35 seconds) Video Transcript What challenges did you face while planning for this project? One of the most challenges parts was picking our sites. We want to make sure that we have sites where we can go put these cameras up and we know that the walrus are going to come and be at those sites during the season. And not only have the walrus there but also have cliffs or bluffs that we can set these cameras up on top of so we can get a good vantage point, so we can get good estimates of how many walrus are hauling out and also what the immediate water access is like. With these challenges in mind, the scientists put a lot of thought into selecting the best locations to set up their cameras. Continue on to the "Action!" page to see which sites along Alaska's coastline they chose.      

animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('2', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() Who is watching walrus? HYPOTHESIS (n) - a scientific explanation to a problem. Scientists form hypotheses to explain something that they observed. Scientists then test the hypothesis to determine how true it is.               Questions   Dr. Lori Polasek is a marine mammal scientist. When she has a scientific question, she designs a research project to help her find answers. She wants to learn how walrus use land haulouts. Dr. Polasek works together with her team to decide which specific questions they hope to answer. With this project, the team wants to learn: How many walruses are using a haulout? How long are they at the haulout? How often do the walruses use a haulout site? They already know that walruses are easily startled by things like airplanes or predators in the area, so they also want to learn more about how walrus react to disturbances while hauled out on land. Watch the videos below to learn more about the questions and hypotheses Dr. Polasek plans to look at with her study. VIDEO: DR. POLASEK'S RESEARCH Questions Learn what questions Dr. Polasek had about walrus that made her want to study them. (1 minute) Video Transcript Why did you want to study walruses? I think walruses as a whole are a very interesting species, they’re very tactile and gregarious. Why I specifically wanted to look at this particular study with walruses is because we had the mortality event that you guys heard about in 2009, where with ice loss moms and calves moved onto a land haulout, and we don’t really understand how the population will interact with humans and other species while they’re hauled out. What questions did you have? The question that I wanted to specifically look at was: what causes walruses to abandon a haulout – what disturbs them – and then how long does it take for them to come back?   VIDEO: DR. POLASEK'S Hypotheses Dr. Polasek explains four hypotheses that she will be testing in this investigation. (1 minute) Video Transcript What are your hypotheses? For this project we have four primary hypotheses specifically looking at disturbance: 1. The first hypothesis is that the new emerging haulouts will have a different reaction than the established haulouts. 2. That ice extent will impact how the two different haulouts will respond to disturbance events. 3. That mother and calves using the new haulouts will have a different reaction to disturbance events than males that are using the pre-established haulouts. 4. And lastly, that the time for recovery from a disturbance event will be different with the females and calves on the new haulouts versus the established haulouts with males. To answer these research questions, Dr. Polasek and her team needed to come up with a way to consistently observe walrus on their haulouts. Join the researchers as they develop a plan for watching walrus.        

  animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('2', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         Three years of spring sampling trips resulted in thousands upon thousands of data samples. Back at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the scientists resettle into their lab. Now with all their samples in front of them, they work to draw meaning from these snippets of information. It's like putting together a puzzle, but this one will take years to finish! Dr. Rolf Gradinger quickly discovered that there was a huge amount of ice algae production happening in the Bering Sea, even more than the team had hypothesized! Dr. Gradinger found that as much as 50% of all the algae growing in the Bering Sea in spring was growing with the sea ice. Armed with this knowledge, Dr. Bluhm and Dr. Iken set to work decoding the food web. First, they wanted to figure out which animals in the Bering Sea feed directly on ice algae. The two scientists are especially interested in animals that feed directly on the sea ice, because changes in the food available for these species will impact animals all the way up the food chain. To study the diet of these primary consumers they used a process called stable isotope analysis. VIDEO: BUILDING A FOODWEB USING STABLE ISOTOPES Learn about how researchers can piece together the marine food web by looking at muscle tissue (1:35) Video Transcript You might have heard the saying before, "you are what you eat". It turns out it's true! Certain chemicals from the foods we eat stay inside our body's tissue long after the food has been digested. Because different foods have different chemicals in them, each type of food has its own chemical signature, it's kind of like a fingerprint. Scientists can look at these signatures inside an animals tissues to see what kinds of food the animal has been eating. The chemicals that scientists look for are called stable isotopes.   In marine ecosystems like the Bering Sea, scientists use this technique to figure out which animals are eating certain types of algae. Imagine you're a clam. You live in the silty sediments at the bottom of the Bering Sea. In the springtime you eat 10 units of food in a day. Of these ten units, eight are of sea ice algae and two are from phytoplankton from the pelagic zone. You go along like this, every day eating eight units of sea ice algae and two units of phytoplankton, until one day.... SCOOP... you end up in our researchers sediment grab sampler. You're hauled up to the surface and taken to the laboratory where a sample of your muscle tissue is removed and tested for stable isotope signatures. The scientists recognize the signature of the stable isotopes from the algae you ate, so they can tell that the ice algae was an important part of your diet. This same techique can be used on animals higher up the food chain. Even the walrus who ate the clam who ate the sea ice algae will have muscle tissue with the sea ice algae's special signature. With the help of stable isotope analysis, the pieces begin falling into place. Dr. Bluhm and Dr. Iken are able to connect primary consumers to the ice algae they ate using their muscle tissue. The food chain doesn't stop there! These primary consumers can be connected to secondary consumers, who can be connected to one of the ecosystem's top predators: the polar bear. Suddenly, scientists are able to show that sea ice isn't just important to a few species; it connects animals throughout the food web! Navigate through the food web below to see what scientists have learned about how arctic organisms are interconnected: The evidence collected as part of this project clearly supports the team's hypothesis that sea ice is an important food source for pelagic and benthic Bering Sea communities during the springtime. The question now is: What will it mean for marine life as sea ice conditions in the Bering Sea continue to change? Scientists aren't sure yet, but they know that research projects like this one are important because they will provide baseline information which will help the science community quantify ecosystem changes over time.       WHO IS STUDYING SEA ICE?   ISOTOPES (n)- different forms of the same chemical   INTERCONNECTED (adj)- connected with each other   CLIMATE (n)- the general weather conditions in an area over a long period of time   BASELINE (n)- a starting value that is used for comparison to future values   QUANTIFY (v)- to assign a quantity to something              

animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('B', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         All research starts with one or more questions. Dr. Tuula Hollmen and her team are tackling a broad question: What do Steller’s eiders need to breed successfully? The team isn't going to find the answer just by looking in a textbook. Steller’s eiders are unique. Little is known about their needs and they don’t follow the same breeding behaviors of other well-studied waterfowl like domestic ducks. So, why is Dr. Hollmen interested in this particular question when it comes to eiders? VIDEO: STELLER'S EIDERS RESEARCH QUESTIONS Dr. Tuula Hollmen discusses the factors that led to her research questions and how she plans to investigate those questions. (1:46) Video Transcript The eider is a long-lived species that has a high adult survival but very variable and potentially low annual productivity or reproductive success. And it works because the species lives a long time, so each individual can have a really long reproductive career, and they don’t have to be successful every year, because they have (in eider’s case) they potentially have at least 15 years to breed. Reproductive success is really one of the key questions for the recovery. If that continues to be low or doesn’t reach some certain threshold, recovery will either not happen or take a really long time. But if they can increase productivity then we might see recovery. I would like to ask the question: what does an eider need to breed successfully? We have a suite of sub questions: What makes an eider pairing successful? What kinds of nests are successful? How do you set the incubation conditions for successful hatching? So those are sub-questions. So when we set up to answer the question in our program here, we think about all these factors that the eiders are faced with in the wild and we transfer that to our own virtual reality that we are creating here. The habitat is not the natural habitat, but we are learning from the wild birds as to what are the key features of their habitat that they need to go through all the different steps of the reproductive cycle. So we would try to mimic the available nest sites, the privacy, the ponds, the water quality, all those kinds of things to the best we can and match them to the natural environment. Dr. Hollmen has to think about how to convert the complex, wild system that the eiders come from into a virtual habitat at the Alaska SeaLife Center so that her team can learn from the captive reservoir population. With little existing research, a small wild population in Barrow, sporadic nesting on the Y-K Delta, and hundreds of variables, how will the scientists figure out what a pair of Steller’s eider needs to breed successfully? Here’s the benefit of science: they can try out different materials and techniques (experimentation!) and use careful observation to figure out a strategy that works for the captive eiders. The research question cannot be answered in one year. Every breeding season tests if the scientists’ current arrangement helps the birds breed successfully. Scientific inquiry is a process, and the eider team knows it well as they continue to learn, question, and adapt. It's what they've been doing for over a decade!        CLICK BELOW TO LEARN ABOUT SEADUCK SCIENTISTS!   ADAPT (n) - to change behaviors or physical traits to survive in a specific environment.   BROOD (n) - the offspring of an animal, especially of a bird.   BROOD (v) - to sit on eggs to hatch them.   EXPERIMENT (v) - to do a scientific test in which you perform a series of actions and carefully observe their effects.   INQUIRY (n) - an act of asking or searching for information.   THRESHOLD (n) - a level, point, or value above which something is true or will take place.   VARIABLE (n) - an element, feature, or factor that can vary or change.   VIRTUAL (adj) - very close to being something without actually being it.    

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) announces the opening of the nomination period for the 2022 Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards. ASLC established the Awards to recognize those who have made significant contributions to ocean sciences, education, and resource management in Alaska. Nominations for the 2022 Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards are open now through December 10, 2021.      The award categories are as follows: Walter J. & Ermalee Hickel Lifetime Achievement Award: Awarded to an individual or institution that has made an exceptional contribution to management of Alaska’s coastal and ocean resources over a period of 20 or more years. $1,000 cash prize. Sponsored by the late Governor Walter J. and the late Ermalee Hickel. Stewardship & Sustainability Award: Awarded to an industry initiative that demonstrates the highest commitment to sustainability of ocean resources. Sponsored by Jason Brune. Marine Research Award: Awarded to a scientist, team of scientists, or an institution that is acknowledged by peers to have made an original breakthrough contribution or a career spanning achievement in any field of scientific knowledge about Alaska’s oceans. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Dr. Clarence Pautzke and Dr. Maureen McCrea. Marine Science Outreach Award: Awarded to a person, team, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ocean literacy via formal or informal education, media, or other communications about Alaska’s marine ecosystems. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Alaska Ocean Observing System. Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award: Awarded to an individual or team of Alaskan youth ages 12-19 who has displayed dedication to promoting the understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s oceans. $500 cash prize. Sponsored by Dale Hoffman. To make a nomination for any of these awards, visit the Alaska SeaLife Center website https://www.alaskasealife.org/alaska_ocean_leadership_awards or email oceanawards@alaskasealife.org. About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.

Dr. John Fraser Receives Prestigious Devra Kleiman Scientific Advancement Award from AZA   The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to announce that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has honored John Fraser, Ph.D., AIA, ASLC Director of Mission Impact, with the Devra Kleiman Scientific Advancement Award, one of its highest recognitions. Established in 2014, the award celebrates scientific contributions that advance animal management, education, and conservation. Named for pioneering zoologist Dr. Devra Kleiman, it is presented only when a candidate’s impact reflects her legacy. This marks the first time a social scientist has been recognized with the award. Over nearly four decades, Fraser’s work has transformed how zoos and aquariums understand their impact on people, showing that conservation success depends as much on human behavior as on ecosystems. Fraser’s career began as an architect designing exhibits for the Toronto Zoo in the 1980s. Encouraged by mentors including Drs. Jill Mellen, Kathy Carlstead, and David Shepherdson, he was welcomed by Kleiman into the groundbreaking Methods of Behavioral Assessment project, one of the first multi-institutional behavioral research efforts. That collaboration sparked a lifelong focus on the human side of conservation. In 2000, Drs. Carol Saunders, Stephen Kellert, and Fraser launched the idea of conservation psychology, a social-science partner to conservation biology. Since then, Fraser has led landmark projects showing how zoos and aquariums influence environmental identity, hope, and action. His leadership of Phases II and III of the Why Zoos and Aquariums Matter studies provided critical data on the social and educational impact of AZA institutions. He later co-authored The Social Value of Zoos with Tawnya Switzer, published by Cambridge University Press.   Fraser has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles, more than 20 books and chapters, and served as editor of Curator: The Museum Journal from 2015–2022. Within AZA, he was a founding member of the Research and Technology Committee, co-author of the AZA’s Research Priorities, and a key driver behind the Social Science Research and Evaluation Scientific Advisory Group. He developed shared research tools that fostered collaboration and elevated social science in the field. “Devra welcomed me into my first major research project, and her belief in rigorous science as a tool for conservation has guided me ever since,” Fraser said. “I’ve tried throughout my career to carry that same commitment forward.” The Alaska SeaLife Center is proud to celebrate Dr. John ‘Johnny’ Fraser’s achievement and the recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to conservation science. About AZA Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and abroad.        

    animatedcollapse.addDiv('1', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() animatedcollapse.addDiv('2', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init()         MEET DR. KATRIN IKEN MARINE BIOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS WHAT SHE STUDIES: -Foodweb interactions -Marine plants and invertebrates         ONE CHALLENGE OF WORKING IN THE ARCTIC IS... "You have to be prepared to be cold, because you can only put on so many clothes." Dr. Katrin Iken describes how her work as a scientific diver gives her special insight into her study of marine ecosystems. (1:00) Video Transcript   I am a scientific diver, and I love doing it.  Not just for the adventure but really for the reason that it gives me a completely different appreciation of how things look under water.  It is much easier for me to understand, sort of how organisms live together and how they work together if I can actually see them in their natural environment.  It’s very different to see them there than for instance to have a big bottom trawl bring up organisms and you look at a big pile of them, but they are all just jumbled together and you don’t know anymore how they were actually distributed; especially sort of in relation to each other, in relation to certain habitat features such as rocks or sediment or elevation under water or depressions in the sea floor you know, all these kind of things.  So I think it gives us as researchers a different insight to be able to actually see how it is under  the water.     WHO IS STUDYING SEA ICE?  

Seward, Alaska (March 18, 2015) –The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to announce the creation of the Alaska SeaLife Center Endowment Fund. A Board of Directors member, who wishes to remain anonymous, has donated stock establishing an endowment fund with the Alaska Community Foundation (ACF). The Alaska SeaLife Center Endowment Fund will support the ASLC in achieving its mission of generating and sharing scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. Specifically, endowment funds generate a predictable stream of income for a nonprofit organization like ASLC, leaving a majority of the assets to grow in perpetuity. An endowment offers the flexibility to meet ASLC’s immediate needs while ensuring assets are always preserved for our long-term mission. The ACF protects the fund’s assets from being spent for any other purpose. “Instead of just focusing on meeting our funding needs today, we are focusing on being here tomorrow. By establishing an endowment we are building a source of unrestricted operating revenue that will support us forever,” said ASLC President and CEO Dr. Tara Riemer. For example, your gift today will be invested by the ACF and will earn returns every year from the moment you make it. That means a gift of $1,000 today is a gift of $50 every year permanently to the Alaska SeaLife Center. The Alaska SeaLife Endowment Fund welcomes gifts of all kinds including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets. Gifts can be made online through the ACF at https://alaskacf.org/blog/funds/alaska-sealife-center-endowmentor by calling (907) 334-6700. About the ASLC Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium, with wildlife response and education programs. It generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org. About the ACF Established in 1995, the Alaska Community Foundation is a statewide platform for philanthropy that connects people who care with causes that matter. Holding over $83 million in over 315 funds for the benefit of Alaskans, ACF grants $5-6 million each year to charitable projects and nonprofit organizations across the state. Our mission is to cultivate, celebrate and sustain all forms of philanthropy to strengthen Alaska’s communities forever. For more information, visit www.alaskacf.org.