Experience Alaska's unique wildlife through exceptional zoos, aquariums, and rescue centers featuring Arctic and sub-Arctic species. From the only AZA-accredited marine aquarium to specialized raptor rehabilitation and wildlife conservation centers, Alaska offers unparalleled opportunities to encounter polar bears, bald eagles, sea lions, and native northern animals in world-class facilities dedicated to rescue, research, and education.
Major Facilities
Animals
AZA Accredited Aquarium
Eagles Treated Annually
Alaska's premier wildlife facilities specialize in Arctic and sub-Arctic species, combining public education with critical wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation programs.
Location: 4731 O'Malley Road, Anchorage, AK 99507
Size: 25 wooded acres
Animals: 100+ birds and mammals representing 50 species
Hours: Seasonal hours vary (9 AM-8 PM summer, 10 AM-4 PM winter)
Admission: Adults $20, Alaska Residents $17, Seniors/Military $15, Youth (3-17) $10, Under 3 Free
Website: alaskazoo.org
Highlights: Opened in 1969, the Alaska Zoo features the widest variety of native Alaska species including polar bears, brown bears, black bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, muskoxen, plus exotic cold-climate animals like Amur tigers, snow leopards, and Bactrian camels. Specializes in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation with nearly 200,000 annual visitors.
Location: 301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK (Resurrection Bay)
Opened: 1998 (built with Exxon Valdez Oil Spill funds)
Status: Alaska's only public aquarium, AZA-accredited through September 2027
Hours: Year-round (check website for seasonal hours, last entry 1 hour before closing)
Admission: Variable pricing by date/time (book early for best rates), Alaska Resident/Military/Child discounts available
Website: alaskasealife.org
Highlights: Combines public aquarium with marine research and Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation center. Features harbor seals, Steller sea lions, puffins, Giant Pacific octopuses, touch tanks, two-story underwater viewing. Rescues and treats stranded marine animals from across Alaska including seals, sea lions, walruses, sea otters, and seabirds.
Location: Mile 79 Seward Highway, Portage Valley (near Girdwood)
Size: 200+ acres
Animals: Grizzly bears, black bears, moose, wood bison, wolves, elk, muskoxen, caribou, lynx, bald eagles, foxes, porcupines
Hours: Year-round (bears hibernate in winter)
Access: 1.5-mile scenic loop (by foot, bike, or car)
Website: alaskawildlife.org
Highlights: Non-profit sanctuary in Chugach Mountain Range dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care. Features spacious natural habitats where animals display natural wild behavior. Offers special tours including Bear Encounter ($125), Walk on the Wild Side ($125), and Moose Encounter ($25).
Location: 4731 O'Malley Road, Anchorage, AK 99507
Founded: 1969 as Alaska Children's Zoo
Visitor Count: Nearly 200,000 annually
Mission: Wildlife rescue, education, research, conservation, and rehabilitation
Notable Animals: Polar bears (Ahpun and Lyutyik with underwater viewing), three bear species (polar, brown, black), moose, caribou, Dall sheep, muskoxen, Amur tigers, snow leopards, harbor seals, river otters, eagles, owls
Conservation Programs: Species Survival Plan participation for tigers and snow leopards, Polar Bear International partnership for polar bear conservation
Special Experiences: Polar Bear and Tiger Encounters, daily naturalist tours ($25 adults, $15 children 12 and under), all-terrain wheelchair rental available
Seasonal Variations: Extended summer hours (9 AM-8 PM June-August) with tours and feeding experiences Memorial Day-Labor Day. Winter visits (10 AM-4 PM November-February) offer quiet snow-covered trails perfect for photography, plus Zoo Boo and Zoo Lights events.
Location: Anchorage
Managed By: International Bird Rescue
Size: 4,800-square-foot wildlife care facility
Purpose: Designed for oiled wildlife rehabilitation and care, ready for all wildlife emergencies
Partnership: Houses Bird Treatment & Learning Center (Bird TLC)
Service Record: For over 20 years has rehabilitated thousands of raptors and other birds for the Anchorage community and wider Alaska region.
Location: 301 Railway Avenue, downtown Seward (Resurrection Bay waterfront)
Accreditation: AZA-accredited since 2011, reaccredited September 2022 through September 2027
Size: $56 million facility with research laboratory and public aquarium
Affiliation: University of Alaska Fairbanks, collaborates with state, federal, and international agencies
Mission: Marine research, education, wildlife rescue, and rehabilitation
Exhibits: Touch tank with sea stars and sea urchins, two-story seabird aviary with diving pool, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, moon jellies, Giant Pacific octopuses, Alaska food fish (salmon, halibut, king crab, sablefish)
Research Focus: Steller sea lion decline, spectacled eider decline, remote tracking of marine mammals
Wildlife Response: Monitors 6,640 miles of Alaska coastline, rescues and treats harbor seals, ringed seals, spotted seals, fur seals, Steller/California sea lions, walruses, sea otters, and seabirds
Unique Patient: Admitted spotted seal pup in June 2025 - fewer than ten spotted seals ever admitted in organization history
Visit Duration: Typically 2-3 hours for full exploration
Location: Mile 79 Seward Highway, Portage Valley
Setting: Surrounded by Chugach Mountain Range and Turnagain Arm Inlet
Size: 200+ acres of spacious natural habitats
Animals: Three brown bears in 21-acre habitat, two black bears in 14-acre stream enclosure, timber wolves, Grizzly bears, Alaskan moose, red foxes, elk, muskoxen, Sitka black-tailed deer, porcupine caribou, Canadian lynx, bald eagles, great horned owls, wood bison, porcupines
Notable Resident: Hugo the grizzly bear - found orphaned and starving near Kotzebue with 150 porcupine quills in paws, transported via snowmachine and airplane to AWCC for lifelong care
Access: 1.5-mile scenic loop with interpretive signs at each habitat, accessible by foot, bike, or car
Tours: Bear Encounter Tour ($125), Walk on the Wild Side Tour ($125) with personal guide and animal feeding, Moose Encounter Tour ($25) meet-and-feed
Winter Visiting: October-April offers different wildlife views - moose, wood bison, reindeer, wolves, deer, muskox, foxes active (bears hibernate with low profile). General admission tickets available at gate, do not sell out.
Location: 5561 Bodenburg Loop, Palmer, AK 99645
Phone: 907-745-4000
Distance: 45 minutes from Anchorage in heart of Mat-Su Valley
Website: reindeerfarm.com
Animals: 150 reindeer, 30 elk, 1 bison, pigs, chickens, llamas, moose, yaks
Summer Season: May 1-Labor Day, 10 AM-6 PM daily (last admission 5 PM)
Winter Season: September 2-April (closed Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays), guided experiences by appointment only. Closed entire month of April for calving season.
Admission: Adults $19, Seniors (65+) $17, Military (with ID) $17, Children (3-11) $17, Alaska Residents (with ID) $17
Experience: One-hour guided tour with interesting stories about animals, photo opportunities, rub reindeer, feed moose. Self-guided tours available in summer (walk-ins welcome). Horseback trail rides in summer.
Special Events: Fall Festival in October, Santa tours in December
Tips: Wear clothes and shoes suitable for outdoor activity that can get wet or muddy. Alaska weather varies.
Location: 1000 Raptor Way, Sitka, AK 99835
Phone: 907-747-8662
Distance: 20-minute walk from Centennial Hall
Website: alaskaraptor.org
Campus: 17 acres bordering Tongass National Forest and Indian River
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 AM-4 PM (last admission 3 PM)
Mission: Alaska's foremost bald eagle hospital and educational center
Annual Treatment: 100-200 injured bald eagles and other birds
Services: On-call rescue 24/7 year-round across entire State of Alaska
Goal: Release rehabilitated birds back to wild; severely injured birds become permanent residents
Featured Facility: 20,000-cubic-foot flight-training aviary with soundproof viewing corridor and one-way glass for undisturbed observation
Visit Duration: 45 minutes minimum, easily 2 hours to meet birds and hear their stories. From backyard volunteer operation to one of Alaska's premier visitor attractions.
The Alaska SeaLife Center is the only AZA-accredited facility in Alaska and the only institution in the state combining public aquarium with marine research and permanent marine mammal rehabilitation. Built in 1998 as "Alaska's window on the sea," it serves as both world-class visitor attraction and critical conservation resource.
Location: 301 Railway Avenue, downtown Seward waterfront (end of 3rd Ave, mile zero Seward Highway)
Hours: Year-round operation, check website for seasonal hours. Last entry 1 hour before closing.
Tickets: Variable pricing by date, time, and demand. Purchasing early guarantees most cost-effective rates. Alaska Resident, Military, and Child discounts available online.
Cancellation: 7+ days: full refund or free rescheduling. 2-6 days: 50% refund or free rescheduling. Contact: 888-378-2525 or [email protected]
Transportation: By car (Seward Highway to 3rd Avenue), by train (Seward railroad depot at 410 Port Avenue, walk or shuttle), free Seward shuttle stops at center
Duration: Plan 2-3 hours for full exploration of exhibits and wildlife habitats
Website: alaskawildliferescue.org
Service Area: Statewide
Mission: Rescue Alaskan wildlife from life-threatening situations, transport injured animals to veterinary and rehabilitation centers throughout Alaska, organize foster care for orphaned wild animals, reintroduce previously injured and orphaned animals back into the wild
Scope: Rescues wildlife of all shapes and sizes year-round, ranging from bats to bears. Provides critical emergency response and coordination services across Alaska.
Website: akwildbird.org
Focus: Wild birds
Dual Mission: (1) Care for injured, orphaned, and sick wild birds with the goal of returning healthy birds to the wild, and (2) educate the public about these birds and conservation of their habitats
Service: Provides specialized avian care and rehabilitation services with focus on returning birds to their natural environment.
Location: 1000 Raptor Way, Sitka, AK 99835
Phone: 907-747-8662
Specialization: Bald eagles, owls, and birds of prey
Annual Treatment: 100-200 injured bald eagles and other raptors
Services: 24/7 on-call rescue across entire State of Alaska
Public Access: Tuesday-Saturday 8 AM-4 PM (last admission 3 PM). Features 20,000-cubic-foot flight-training aviary with soundproof viewing corridor.
Location: Anchorage
Management: International Bird Rescue
Size: 4,800-square-foot facility
Purpose: Designed for oiled wildlife rehabilitation and care, ready for all wildlife emergencies
Partnership: Houses Bird Treatment & Learning Center (Bird TLC)
Service Record: Over 20 years serving Anchorage and wider Alaska region, rehabilitating thousands of raptors and other birds.
Location: 5561 Bodenburg Loop, Palmer, AK 99645 (45 minutes from Anchorage)
Phone: 907-745-4000
Website: reindeerfarm.com
Summer Season (May 1 - Labor Day):
Winter Season (September 2 - April):
Admission: Adults $19, Seniors (65+) $17, Military (with ID) $17, Children (3-11) $17, Alaska Residents (with ID) $17
Animals: 150 reindeer, 30 elk, 1 bison, pigs, chickens, llamas, moose, yaks
Experience: One-hour guided tour sharing interesting and humorous stories about wild animals. Get great photos, rub reindeer, feed moose. Interactive family farm experience in beautiful Mat-Su Valley setting.
Special Events:
Important Tips: Wear clothes and shoes suitable for outdoor activity - you may get wet or muddy. Alaska weather varies, so come prepared for changing conditions.
Alaska's wildlife facilities embrace a philosophy of rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education. As specialized institutions focusing on Arctic and sub-Arctic species, these centers play critical roles in preserving wildlife populations, treating injured animals, conducting scientific research, and educating the public about conservation challenges facing Alaska's unique ecosystems.
| Facility | Adult | Youth | AK Resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Zoo | $20 | $10 (3-17) | $17 |
| Alaska SeaLife Center | Variable | Discounts | Discounts |
| AWCC | At gate | At gate | At gate |
| Reindeer Farm | $19 | $17 (3-11) | $17 |
| Alaska Raptor Center | Check site | Check site | Check site |
Prices subject to change. Check official websites for current rates. Senior and military discounts typically available.
Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward is the only AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) accredited facility in Alaska, with accreditation through September 2027. The center was first accredited in 2011 and fully reaccredited on September 19, 2022.
As of September 2025, there are 240 AZA-accredited institutions nationwide. Less than 10 percent of the 2,800 wildlife exhibitors licensed by the USDA meet the comprehensive standards of AZA accreditation. Alaska SeaLife Center is Alaska's only public aquarium and the only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation center in the state, combining visitor education with critical marine research and wildlife rescue.
The Alaska Zoo has the widest variety of animals native to Alaska, including:
The zoo also features exotic cold-climate animals including Amur tigers, snow leopards, Bactrian camels, and yaks. Located on 25 wooded acres in Anchorage, the zoo houses 100+ birds and mammals representing 50 species total.
Many resident animals at the Alaska Zoo were found orphaned or injured and could not survive in the wild. The zoo has maintained its original 1969 mission of providing sanctuary for animals in need while serving as Alaska's premier wildlife education center.
Alaska has specialized wildlife rehabilitation facilities serving different animal groups:
Alaska SeaLife Center (Seward): Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility. Monitors 6,640 miles of coastline and rescues/treats harbor seals, ringed seals, spotted seals, fur seals, Steller sea lions, California sea lions, walruses, sea otters, and seabirds. Provides medical treatment, rehabilitation, and release when possible.
Alaska Raptor Center (Sitka): Alaska's foremost bald eagle hospital. Treats 100-200 injured bald eagles and other raptors annually. Offers 24/7 on-call rescue services statewide. Features 20,000-cubic-foot flight-training aviary for rehabilitation.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Portage): Takes in injured and orphaned large land mammals including bears, wolves, and bison. Most animals become permanent residents at the 200-acre sanctuary.
Alaska Wildlife Rescue: Provides statewide rescue services for wildlife ranging from bats to bears, transports injured animals to veterinary and rehabilitation centers, organizes foster care for orphaned animals.
Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center: Cares for injured, orphaned, and sick wild birds with goal of returning healthy birds to the wild.
Alaska Wildlife Response Center (Anchorage): 4,800-square-foot facility designed for oiled wildlife rehabilitation, houses Bird Treatment & Learning Center (Bird TLC) which has rehabilitated thousands of raptors and birds over 20+ years.
Summer Season (May-September): Best for maximum animal activity and full facility experiences. Alaska Zoo offers extended hours (9 AM-8 PM June-August) with daily naturalist tours and feeding experiences Memorial Day-Labor Day. Reindeer Farm offers self-guided tours and horseback riding. All facilities fully operational with longest daylight hours.
Winter Season (October-April): Offers unique quiet experiences with snow-covered trails perfect for photography. Alaska Zoo hosts special events like Zoo Boo and Zoo Lights. However, bears may be less active or hibernating. Reindeer Farm operates by appointment only (closed Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and entire month of April for calving). Winter hours typically shorter (10 AM-4 PM).
Spring/Fall Transition (March-April, September-October): Moderate hours (10 AM-5 PM), fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures. Good balance between animal activity and visitor experience.
Special Considerations:
For outdoor activities like Reindeer Farm, wear clothes suitable for wet/muddy conditions. Alaska weather varies significantly - always check forecasts and dress in layers.
Alaska Zoo: Participates in Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs for Amur tigers and snow leopards. Partners with Polar Bear International for polar bear conservation. Specializes in Arctic and sub-Arctic wildlife conservation, education, research, and rehabilitation. Most animals are rescued orphans or injured wildlife unable to survive in the wild.
Alaska SeaLife Center: Conducts research on Steller sea lion decline, spectacled eider decline, and remote marine mammal tracking. Affiliated with University of Alaska Fairbanks. Collaborates with state, federal, and international agencies. Operates Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility, rescuing and treating stranded animals from across the state. Monitors 6,640 miles of Alaska coastline.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: Provides sanctuary for injured and orphaned Alaska wildlife on 200+ acres of natural habitats. Focuses on large land mammals (bears, wolves, bison) through education, research, and quality animal care. Notable rescues include Hugo the grizzly bear, found orphaned with 150 porcupine quills in paws.
Alaska Raptor Center: Treats 100-200 injured bald eagles and raptors annually with 24/7 statewide rescue services. Rehabilitates birds for release or provides permanent sanctuary for those unable to survive in wild.
Alaska Wildlife Alliance: Founded 1978, Alaska's oldest grassroots wildlife conservation organization and only statewide Alaska-founded nonprofit dedicated solely to protecting Alaska's wildlife. Focuses on recovering threatened and endangered species.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Division of Wildlife Conservation manages Alaska's wildlife (except marine mammals) with dedicated ESA team addressing eight threatened/endangered species in Alaska, including wood bison reintroduction efforts.
The Alaska SeaLife Center showcases diverse Alaska marine life with two-story viewing (above and below water):
Marine Mammals:
Seabirds:
Invertebrates & Fish:
Behind the Scenes - Wildlife Rescue: The center's Wildlife Response Program rescues and rehabilitates stranded marine animals including harbor seals, ringed seals, spotted seals, fur seals, Steller sea lions, California sea lions, walruses, sea otters, and various seabirds. In June 2025, they admitted a rare spotted seal pup from Nome - fewer than ten spotted seals have ever been admitted in the organization's history.
Built in 1998 using Exxon Valdez Oil Spill funds, the center combines a public aquarium with a fully-supported research facility affiliated with University of Alaska Fairbanks. Visitors typically spend 2-3 hours exploring exhibits and learning about Alaska's marine ecosystems.
Yes, several Alaska facilities offer hands-on animal experiences:
Williams Reindeer Farm (Palmer):
Alaska Zoo (Anchorage):
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Portage):
Alaska SeaLife Center (Seward):
Alaska Raptor Center (Sitka):
Always book special encounters and tours in advance when possible, as popular experiences sell out quickly. Follow all facility guidelines and staff instructions during animal interactions to ensure safety for both visitors and animals.
Yes, most Alaska wildlife facilities offer Alaska resident discounts:
Alaska Zoo (Anchorage):
Williams Reindeer Farm (Palmer):
Alaska SeaLife Center (Seward):
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Portage):
Free Admission:
Always bring valid Alaska ID to verify residency. Military personnel should bring military ID. Senior discounts typically require proof of age. Check each facility's website for current pricing and discount policies as rates may change seasonally.
From Anchorage:
From Seward:
From Palmer:
From Sitka:
Transportation Options:
Plan for variable driving conditions in Alaska, especially in winter. Seward Highway offers spectacular scenery but requires careful driving. Always check road conditions before traveling, and allow extra time for weather delays and wildlife viewing opportunities along routes.
Winter Hours & Closures:
Animal Activity in Winter:
Winter Advantages:
What to Bring:
Winter Driving:
Winter visits offer unique opportunities to see Alaska wildlife in snowy settings. While some animals are less visible, the quiet beauty and special events make winter an excellent time to experience Alaska's wildlife facilities. Always dress warmly and check facility websites for current hours and any weather-related closures.
Last updated on November 27, 2025