What kind of wildlife will I see on my Skagway tour? (Part 3)

A white black bear? Well, that’s just plain crazy.

In Part 1 we talked about bears and moose, and in Part 2 oceanic wildlife was covered with aplomb. Now it’s time to cover some of the more unusual critters you may see on your Skagway wildlife tour. As always, we will explain which tour gives you the best chance of seeing each animal.

Wildlife species you may not ever have heard of

Pretty much everyone knows what a bear and whale are, and if you don’t you should watch more Discovery Channel. However, there are all sorts of varmints that you either haven’t heard of or didn’t realize lived in Alaska. Here in Skagway, we are lucky to be surrounded by all sorts of strange creatures, some of which you may see late at night in the bar (wink wink).

Let’s go over some of these crazy creatures to whet your appetite for wild adventure:

Mountain goats – Many tourists know what a goat is, but a mountain goat is a lot bigger and lives high up in the mountains. Sometimes they come close to the highway to lick salt off of the road, or for the enjoyment of making motorists risk life and limb trying to avoid hitting them. Mountain goats can weight over 300 pounds, which is crazy when you realize they’re vegan. You can see mountain goats on just about any tour in Skagway, just be sure to keep looking up.

Dall sheep – These white mountain sheep have big horns and sometimes come close to the highway on Yukon tours like the Yukon Discovery. Dall sheep got their name from William Healey Dall, a narcissistic naturalist who really liked to name things after himself.

Canada Lynx – These fluffy cats are cute as the dickens and can weigh up to 25 pounds, even though their thick fur makes them look far bigger. Canada lynx are commonly spotted in Canada, but some of them just don’t listen to their own name and wander into Skagway. If you don’t see one on your Yukon tour, you can take a picture of the forest and tell your friends back home that it’s a photo of the missing lynx.

Beaver – When you think of Canada, you can’t help but think of beaver. Did you know that beaver can grow really big and fat, weighing over 70 pounds? Well, now you do. If you’re a photographer, your best chance of getting a natural beaver shot is on our Yukon Discovery tour.

Wolverine – You have two chances of seeing a wolverine – slim and none. Still, a few lucky tourists every year see a wolverine and their life is changed forever.

Wolf – Wolf are spotted more often than you may think, but a lot of people mistake them for coyotes or big dogs. You don’t want to be one of those people, so if you think you see a wolf, be sure to ask your tour guide whether you’re correct.

Caribou – Caribou are basically wild reindeer, which makes sense since Santa lives relatively close to Skagway and pays us a visit every December and July. Caribou can weight up to 700 pounds, but Santa doesn’t want to feed any reindeer that big. Sometimes caribou are spotted on Yukon tours, and it’s a pretty special thing for everyone involved.

Porcupine – Yes, we have those here too, and they’re commonly spotted throughout the summer on Yukon tours. If you see a porcupine on your Skagway tour, your tour guide will be sure to point it out to you.

If you want to see wildlife, book a Skagway tour

A lot of visitors are surprised how much wildlife we see in and around Skagway. A lot of locals that don’t get outside very often are also surprised. You may think that there aren’t any more animals to see in Skagway, but there is still one more part to this series. Be sure to check back tomorrow to learn about some of the most bizarre animals in our region. And remember, if you want to book a Skagway tour, just give us a call.