Alaska Fish & Wildlife News
December 2004

Western Alaska Moose:
Really Big Deer

By Art Hughes

I sat in the small cabin with my good friend and coworker Joe Chythlook, listening as he explained nuances of his native Yup'ik language. I learned that “tuntu” is deer and “tuntuvak” is really big deer or what we gu-suk refer to as moose. That was what I was after, a really big deer.

It all started ten years ago when I first met Joe. Joe was just a really neat guy - an Eskimo, a bush pilot, a Bristol Bay fisherman, a Christian and a really interesting fellow with great stories about ...   Alaska Moose ArticleContinued

Alaska’s Most Powerful Bird of Prey

By Riley Woodford

Golden eagles are formidable predators in Alaska. Bigger and more aggressive than bald eagles, golden eagles prey on young Dall sheep and caribou - and can take even larger prey.

“They’re built for killing,” said Fairbanks wildlife biologist Jack Whitman, who studied golden eagles in Idaho. “Comparing their physical strength and food habits to bald eagles, the golden eagle is an aggressive, successful predator, and the bald eagle is a really good scavenger. How often ...   Golden Eagles Article Continued

Young Golden Eagles Have Tough Time

By Riley Woodford

Alaska is home to the highest density of nesting golden eagles in North America, in Denali National Park. The big raptors are found throughout the state, but nesting pairs favor mountainous territory like the Alaska Range.

National Park Service biologist Carol McIntyre has been studying golden eagles in Denali for 17 years. She's documenting reproductive success, and over the years she's equipped 48 eagles with transmitters to study their seasonal migrations. About 70 to 75 pairs of eagles ...   Migrations ArticleContinued

Bridging Cultural Differences

By Nancy K. Long

“Personally, I like to eat close to the land, and also enjoy learning about and trying new things. I just got a recipe for pudding made from chum eggs and high bush cranberries," she said. "When you mix the two together you actually get a custard. It's surprisingly very good.” Nancy Ratner


Nancy Ratner spent her childhood in a Chicago suburb, but for 26 years she has worked in bush Alaska where she feels at home in Alaska's remote settlements. Her enthusiasm for subsistence ...   Subsistence ArticleContinued

Speaking Out on Fish and Wildlife Issues

By Rena M. Balzer

Kathy Hansen is an everyday kind of gal with an above-average sense of responsibility. Hansen provides “from-the-field” recommendations to the Alaska Boards of Fisheries and Game. Hansen has been the chairwoman of the Juneau-Douglas Advisory Committee for two years and has served on the committee since 1999.

Advisory committees (AC) are grassroot volunteer groups that meet to discuss fish, wildlife and habitat issues, and receive community input. Public involvement is critical to the ...   Speaking Out ArticleContinued