Bear trying to be a Sea Otter?

Toby at The Sitka Bear Fortress

Eagle at The Raptor Center

Sunset from Eliason Harbor

Elaison Harbor from our flybridge

Sitka’s beauty abounds

The Sisters Mountains

July 22-26, 2013

Once the clouds lifted we realized how absolutely GORGEOUS the Sitka area is. With the beautiful jagged snow-capped mountains and many little forested islands popping up randomly around Sitka, the beauty is captivating. Sitka (Tlingit for “By the sea”) started out as a Russian settlement and was once the capital of Alaska. It is a major fishing port and it’s economy thrives on tourism. We loved watching the fishing boats coming, going, repairing and fishing and learning more about the different types of fishing.

We visited the Raptor Center which exists to rehabilitate and care for injured birds of prey, some of which are able to be released back into the wild while some are too damaged to ever leave. It was inspiring to see what this community has done for these birds. Raptors are birds of prey with three distinct features that make them different from other birds of prey: keen eyesight, a sharp curved beak and sharp talons on their feet. Raptors include bald eagles, owls, peregrine falcons, hawks, osprey and kites. Some interesting facts: eagles can soar up 10,000 feet; the peregrine falcon is the fasted animal on the planet-they can dive up to 200 mph; bald eagles have more than 7,000 feathers which weigh more than the rest of the bird; owls can rotate their head 270 degrees which is necessary because their eyes are fixed in their sockets.

We also visited the Fortress of the Bear where someone in this caring community wanted to ensure that orphaned cubs had a safe place to be raised and were not killed. There are two sets of bears at the Fortress, one with two brothers and a sister and one with two brothers. They have a wonderful natural outdoor habitat where visitors can watch them in a natural environment. Fortress of the Bear is the largest private recycler in Sitka, using outdated produce, dairy and bakery products from local markets along with fish from Sitka residents (such as Mary Todd Andersen who toured us all around Sitka. Thank you, Mary!). This allows the bears to be well fed with the waste used as compost, saving the city and private businesses $10,000 annually in waste disposal. It was great fun watching the bears play and use the sign language they have been taught to ask for more food.

As we leave Sitka we are starting our trek south. We have been out 62 days and every day is one of wonderment for us. We are so thankful to be experiencing this beautiful part of our country.