Alaska is home to some of the most diverse wildlife in America. Instead of squirrel problems, Anchorage residents complain about the rampant Moose and Bears that have been known to hang out inside city limits. In fact, 98% of the United States’ grizzly population resides in Alaska. These bears, technically called the Ursus arctos, can weigh anywhere from 500 to 1,400 pounds as an adult. Apart from traditional grizzly and black bears, more localized bears—the Polar bear for example—can be found among the northern region of Alaska. In addition to the bears, Alaska is also home to millions of real life Reindeer and Caribou (Reindeer are domesticated herds of Caribou). These herds of animals don’t carry Santa’s sleigh or have red noses, they simply roam the grounds as nomads, covering over 3,000 miles in a year. The coastal waters of Alaska are filled with an estimated 70,000 sea otters…more than 90% of the world’s sea otter population. These otters share the waves with a wide variety of whales and dolphins. There are Dall’s and Harbor Porpoises, Pacific Whitesided dolphins, Beaked, Beluga, Bowhead, Fin, Humpback, Gray, Minke, Sperm, and Killer Whales to name a few. To learn more about the whales and dolphins of Alaskan waters, check out NOAA Fisheries. The sky above Alaska holds almost as many wildlife creatures as the waters. The most impressive of the 445 species of sky dwellers found in Alaska is the Eagle. Alaska is home to over 30,000 Bald Eagles—our National bird who was on the endangered species list until 2007. Bald Eagles are found along the state’s coastline while Golden Eagles are seen over the state’s interior.  While many species found in Alaska can also be found in the lower 48 states, it is the rare and local wildlife that make Alaska stand out. If you plan a visit to the Last Frontier, look out for the local animals scarcely found elsewhere