It’s not all incredible landscapes: here are the 5 most dangerous animals you might encounter on a trail in Alaska

One of the best places for those looking to explore virgin wilderness is Alaska. Also known as the ‘Land of the Last Frontier’ it still has vast tracks that are untouched and unexplored with landscapes whose beauty is breathtaking.

However, going for a stroll in the Alaskan outdoors one needs to be aware of the creatures that may be encountered and prepared to react should you stumble across them. Here’s a look at some of the most dangerous found in the state.

Animals to watch out for when hiking in Alaska

The wild animal that you probably want to be the most careful with when hiking in Alaska is moose. While these massive 1,500-pound beasts are not predators, they are responsible for more human injuries in Alaska than bears according to the state’s department of fish and game.

Typically the will flee, but under certain circumstances they can become aggressive and charge. “Give moose an extremely wide berth if you have a dog with you and don’t let your dog chase a moose,” warns the agency as moose view dogs as enemies and will go out of their way to kick one.

If you encounter a moose and it charges you, they can reach speeds of 35 mph, hide behind something solid like a tree or get inside a building or car for safety.

All three North American bears are found in Alaska

In Alaska, you are never far from a bear says the Alaska Department of Fish and Game even though few ever see one in the wild. There are three types of bears in the state including brown, or grizzly, black, and polar bears.

Grizzly bears can be found almost anywhere in Alaska, while black bears inhabit most of the forests in the state. Polar bears typically roam the sea ice and tundra in the extreme north and west of the state.

While encounters with these giants are rare and even those result in few life-threatening situations, the fish and game department has some recommendations to avoid dangerous encounters when traveling in bear country.

Wolves are widespread across Alaska

Typically, wolves won’t attack people but there have been cases of it happening. Fish and Game warns people to be aware of their surroundings at all times, even in urban areas as the Alaskan wilderness in many cases starts in people’s backyards.

Should you go off the beaten path it is recommended to carry with you things you can use to defend yourself like pepper or bear spray, and poles. Noisemakers are a good idea to help scare off wolves because you’ll have to stand your ground if one or a pack approaches you.

Other animals to watch out for in Alaska

Other dangerous animals that you could come across in Alaska are Walrus which can weigh up to two tons and measure 12 feet. The mothers are very protective of their young which is when humans may have dangerous encounters with these otherwise non-aggressive animals.

Wolverines are also noted as being potentially dangerous. However, Fish and Game says that they get a bad rap being called “bad tempered loners.” While these scavengers have been known to destroy cabins and are the bane of trappers, these 40-pound animals of the weasel family will not attack larger predators.

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