Day 76 Valdez Alaska

Aug 25, 2022

Nice relaxing morning. More rain 🌧 in the forecast so no need to get up early.

We heard that the local Fish Hatchery may be a great place to see Sea Lions and Bears as the Silver, Coho and Pink Salmon are coming in to spawn.

Enjoy the pics! We went there in the afternoon and in the evening and were rewarded with 8 Black Bears including 2 small cubs and 2 good sized Brown Bears as well as large sized Sea Lions.

Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery

Solomon Gulch Hatchery presents a unique opportunity to observe one of Alaska’s largest fisheries enhancement programs. The hatchery is owned by the Valdez Fisheries Development Association Inc., and was completed in 1983. It mission is to ensure sufficient numbers of wild salmon return each year to increase the harvests of both sport and commercial fisheries in the Valdez area. The facility is permitted to incubate, rear and release 270 million pink salmon, and 2 million Coho salmon annually. This production capacity provides for an impressive release of 250 million pink salmon fry and 1.8 million Coho salmon smolts each year. The hatchery is located across the bay on Dayville Road, en route to the Allison Point camping and fishing area.

Bears, eagles, seagulls, sea lions and sea otters can be found feeding on the returning salmon. Fishermen of all types, may also be observed harvesting the pink and coho salmon near the hatchery. However, sport fishing is prohibited within 300 feet of the weir and fish ladder and within the brood pond area.

They don’t have to work too hard for their meal

Here I come 😂👆

These Sea Lions only have to open their mouth and dinner is served 👍

Seagulls are getting in on that as well

Patiently waiting their turn😂

And the Bears enjoys Salmon on the menu as well

So darn cute. Teaching the cubs how to catch fish

Another one just Crossing the road. I smell BBQ 😂👆or Human “ Fast Food”

This one sticks to what he knows best. At low tide it’s so easy

They are definitely not missing a meal here right now during spawning season

Just as we thought we saw enough bears we came across these two Brown Bears. A little further away but still fun to watch

One is a nice Cinnamon color

What a fantastic day for Wildlife today 😀

Our travel Brief meeting in the “Laundry Room” 😂That’s a first for us!

Just Breathtaking waterfall by the Hatchery

The next three days are long travel days on bumpy roads to get us to Skagway Alaska. I will try to keep up the blog as long as I have sufficient WIFI/ cell coverage. 🥰