Talon Air Service
Flightseeing · Bear Viewing · Fly-In Fishing · Hunting
BEST TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR
Bear Viewing in Alaska
Getting up close and personal with Alaskan Brown Bears is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The overall might and beauty of these majestic beasts can really only be enjoyed in this setting, and not behind a pane of glass in a zoo. We have an intimate knowledge of when and where to find these animals, but it's important to remember that they are wild animals with their own schedules and migration patterns. Still, there are some times and locations that are better than others for bear viewing.
LATE SPRING – LATE SUMMER
Of course, bears go into hibernation sometime in mid-Autumn and stay hibernating until Spring of the next year. This means that they're most active during the hottest parts of the year, after they've stretched their limbs and shaken off the winter a bit. This is why our available bear viewing trips all take place between May and September. It's during this time that the brown bear populations are out and about, looking for food and enjoying the summer before another winter comes.
AUTUMN
Throughout mid-September and into October, bear activity starts to wind down. You can still occasionally see them as they make any last minute preparations for the winter, but by mid-October and certainly into November, it becomes pretty rare to see a brown bear walking around, as most of them have made their way into their dens by then.
WINTER-EARLY SPRING
By December, it's basically impossible to see a brown bear in most of Alaska. There are some warmer islands that have bear populations that have been known to remain semi-active during the winter. However, by this time, most bears have receded into their dens and entered full-hibernation, where they'll stay at least until April or a little longer. If you see a bear during this period, it's usually not a good sign, and it's best to steer clear of it.
