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utback, but I rarely come across their tracks when mountain biking. What I do see is bones. Bones of animals hunted by wolves. They leave telltale signs, like eating everything down to the hooves. There might be some odds and ends scattered around before the Ravens arrive. The Ravens usually pick the bones clean.Smart DeerDeer are smart in Alaska. They know it is hunting season. They move down the hills and streams into our backyard during the season. You cannot hunt within the city limits or near houses, homes, schools, or paved roads. You get a better idea of the wildlife around during hunting season. Since the wolves eat deer and the deer come to town, what happens to the hungry wolves?Hibernating BearsAs I rode down the street the other day, I chanced upon signs of a well-fed wolf. He left some scraps for the Ravens. I thought maybe it was a black bear that ate the deer, but most if not all, the bears ate so much salmon that they wandered off to hibernate.The Deer InvasionDriving through town at night has added dangers. The deer have invaded downtown and wander the streets unmolested by humans with rifles. The wolves followed them. I am amazed by their intelligence. They know that humans will not tolerate them in town, hunting season or not. They leave no tracks to follow and eat quickly.<figure id="7010"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*as6PSCcgv9KR4bbv-0osEQ.jpeg"><figcaption>Photograph by Author — Smart Deer Hanging out Downtown Ketchikan, Alaska.</figcaption></figure>The BonesThey left a large bone in the middle of the road. Bears are not so cautious; they will sit in the road and stare you down. They might not like hum

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ans, but they do not fear them much either. Bears do not taste good, and bear skin rugs have gone out of fashion, so they do not fear the hunters.Not to WorryI do not worry about either bears or wolves. It comes with the territory. I am wary of them, but I have learned to avoid them as much as they have learned to avoid me. They call Alaska the last frontier for a good reason.Alaska is DifferentThings are different here than in the lower forty-eight states. I never considered wolves or bears when I rode a bicycle in California. I never factored in being eaten by a wild animal, either. This adds to the mystique of Alaska. It is wild here; even in town, you must be aware of your surroundings.Conservation of AnimalsWe talk about conservation, but there are more bears than humans. There are plenty of wolves in Alaska, too. I do not think we have a precise number of their population. They are too smart to be counted. We have strict hunting regulations and enforcement. This seems to give the wild animals a fair chance and then some.<figure id="68a8"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*OasKHa7WGv3McTCGSzoQ0Q.jpeg"><figcaption>Photograph by Author — Big Scary Critter Tracks in My Backyard</figcaption></figure>In the Company of WolvesI am not complaining about the animals in my backyard. I kind of like their company. I am informing the public that things really are a bit different in Alaska. With all the shows hyping wild Alaska, sometimes we forget that there are real people living normal lives with big, scary, wild critters in our backyards. It adds to the ambiance of life. From Ketchikan, Alaska, with love and fresh bones.</article></body>

Only in Alaska

What Is It Like to Live in Alaska?

Photograph by Author — Mountain Biking in Alaska

Beware of Bears and Wolves

I went for a bicycle ride the other day and chose an easy route following the road at the southern end of my island. There is less automobile traffic, and it is less populated. It does have a higher population of bears and wolves, though.

They Find it Irresistible.

In Alaska, there is an inverse proportion of bears and wolves to human habitation. The more humans there are, the fewer wild animals there will be. They do not like us too much. Many bears love our garbage because the smell of rotting food is irresistible.

Chasing Bears

If I were a hungry bear and smelled food coming from the garbage, I would probably investigate. They do this at nighttime because they know humans are less likely to be around in the middle of the night. It gets annoying chasing off the Bears at 3 am.

Smarter Than Bears

Wolves are a little smarter or wary of humans. They do not like us. They are so cunning that they know better than to leave tracks behind. They travel a path that leaves few footprints. Seeing wolf tracks is unusual but not unheard of.

Photograph by Author — Deer Bones near 10 Mile Marker on Tongass Hwy. Ketchikan, Alaska.

Signs of Wolves

I see the signs of wolves in the outback, but I rarely come across their tracks when mountain biking. What I do see is bones. Bones of animals hunted by wolves. They leave telltale signs, like eating everything down to the hooves. There might be some odds and ends scattered around before the Ravens arrive. The Ravens usually pick the bones clean.

Smart Deer

Deer are smart in Alaska. They know it is hunting season. They move down the hills and streams into our backyard during the season. You cannot hunt within the city limits or near houses, homes, schools, or paved roads. You get a better idea of the wildlife around during hunting season. Since the wolves eat deer and the deer come to town, what happens to the hungry wolves?

Hibernating Bears

As I rode down the street the other day, I chanced upon signs of a well-fed wolf. He left some scraps for the Ravens. I thought maybe it was a black bear that ate the deer, but most if not all, the bears ate so much salmon that they wandered off to hibernate.

The Deer Invasion

Driving through town at night has added dangers. The deer have invaded downtown and wander the streets unmolested by humans with rifles. The wolves followed them. I am amazed by their intelligence. They know that humans will not tolerate them in town, hunting season or not. They leave no tracks to follow and eat quickly.

Photograph by Author — Smart Deer Hanging out Downtown Ketchikan, Alaska.

The Bones

They left a large bone in the middle of the road. Bears are not so cautious; they will sit in the road and stare you down. They might not like humans, but they do not fear them much either. Bears do not taste good, and bear skin rugs have gone out of fashion, so they do not fear the hunters.

Not to Worry

I do not worry about either bears or wolves. It comes with the territory. I am wary of them, but I have learned to avoid them as much as they have learned to avoid me. They call Alaska the last frontier for a good reason.

Alaska is Different

Things are different here than in the lower forty-eight states. I never considered wolves or bears when I rode a bicycle in California. I never factored in being eaten by a wild animal, either. This adds to the mystique of Alaska. It is wild here; even in town, you must be aware of your surroundings.

Conservation of Animals

We talk about conservation, but there are more bears than humans. There are plenty of wolves in Alaska, too. I do not think we have a precise number of their population. They are too smart to be counted. We have strict hunting regulations and enforcement. This seems to give the wild animals a fair chance and then some.

Photograph by Author — Big Scary Critter Tracks in My Backyard

In the Company of Wolves

I am not complaining about the animals in my backyard. I kind of like their company. I am informing the public that things really are a bit different in Alaska. With all the shows hyping wild Alaska, sometimes we forget that there are real people living normal lives with big, scary, wild critters in our backyards. It adds to the ambiance of life. From Ketchikan, Alaska, with love and fresh bones.