For a list of viewing sites, click here   .  
For hints on selecting sites that best meet your needs, read the following pages.
 
 
How to Select a Bear Viewing Site (1) Nine Secrets to Avoid Picking a Dud Sites p.1 Sites p.2 Sites p.3 Sites p.4 Sites p.5 Sites p.6 Sites p.7 Sites HOME
Once you are sure about what kind of viewing opportunities you want, you need to cull through possible choices to see which ones are right for you. As a first step, you might want answers to the following questions: What are all the locations where bears can be watched? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Which factors make one site better than another? Which species of bears can be seen at each site? When are bears best viewed at each site? (Some sites have good viewing for only a couple of weeks per year. So learn the dates of each site’s seasonal peak, as exactly as possible -- i.e., usually plus or minus a week or two at either end.) What is the weather typically like at that site, at that time of year? (Sunny? Rainy?) How closely can the bears be safely watched? (Some viewing tours provide only glimpses of bears, perhaps from hundreds of yards away. “Well, we saw bears; what more did you expect?”) How long can you stay to watch bears? (The longer you stay, the better your odds of seeing any bears, to say nothing of several bears doing a variety of interesting activities. A full-day trip gives you far better odds than a half-day trip, at little additional cost. Better yet, is staying overnight to see evening and early morning activities of bears and other wildlife, or perhaps extending your trip for several days – if you can afford the lodging expense and time.) Which viewing areas have overnight accommodations nearby – a lodge or camping site? Which kinds of bear activity are you likely to see at each site – e.g., mating, fighting, chasing salmon, nursing cubs? How does this differ according to the date, time of day, or tidal cycle? Which kinds of transportation (e.g., plane, boat, auto, or hiking) are available to and from each viewing site? Which would you prefer? How safe is viewing at each site or in each style? From which kinds of vantage can you view bears at each site? e.g., from an observatory vs. while roaming freely. In the past, finding thorough answers to these questions has been a monumental task. Now, all you need do is read Bear Viewing in Alaska , plus the supplementary information on this website and on the Viewing Vendors website. These introduce you to a wide array of viewing opportunities and help you identify which locations provide those kinds of experience, during the windows of time when you can make the visit, at a reasonable price. To read a description of the book and its Table of Contents click here   NINE FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN SELECTING A VIEWING SITE  (1) Safety  (2) Vantage point  (3) Timing  (4) Availability of bears  (5) Activities by the bears at that place and time (e.g., nursing, fishing, mating)  (6) Visibility of bears  (7) Scenery (8) Government restrictions on what you can do in the vicinity of the bears (e.g., how closely you can approach them; whether you can use flash for photos, etc.) (9) Opportunity for other activities (before and after viewing bears, or for any members of your party who aren’t bear enthusiasts). Go to >>>  ../Bear%20Viewing%20in%20Alaska%20-%20the%20Book/Bear%20Viewing%20in%20Alaska%20-%20the%20Book.htmlhttp://web.mac.com/gobearviewing/iweb/Bear%20Viewing%20Vendors/Vendors%20HOMEPAGE.htmlSites2.htmlSites3.htmlSites4.htmlSites5.htmlSites6.htmlSites7.htmlSites2.htmlshapeimage_13_link_9
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