Beyond Fat Bear Week: Trail Cameras Reveal Alaskan Wolves, Moose, and More

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — This month, millions of viewers around the globe tuned in to celebrate a unique event known as “Fat Bear Week”, showcasing captivating live camera feeds from a remote national park in Alaska. These feeds highlighted the adorable, plump bears feasting on salmon as they prepared for the harsh winters ahead.

However, the thrilling and sometimes brutal dynamics of wildlife are not limited to remote areas. In fact, they are observable within just half a mile of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. Trail cameras positioned near densely populated neighborhoods frequently capture a range of wildlife, from wolverines to moose. Interest in these local animals has surged, with a Facebook group dedicated to sharing webcam footage gaining nearly six-fold more followers since September, following the viral post of a wolf pack hunting a moose calf.

While the group’s content includes some intense moments like the wolf hunt, it also features lighter, endearing scenes, such as playful brown bear cubs energetically rubbing their backs against trees. The Facebook group, known as Muldoon Area Trail Photos and Videos, offers a balanced view of wild life in the area.

Donna Gail Shaw, a co-administrator of the Facebook group, remarked, “We capture whatever is out there,” as the cameras document lynxes, wolves, foxes, coyotes, eagles, and both black and brown bears.

In Anchorage, alongside its approximately 290,000 human inhabitants, there exists a vibrant ecosystem consisting of nearly 350 black bears, around 65 brown bears, and an estimated 1,600 moose.

Joe Cantil, a retired tribal health worker, conceived the idea for the Facebook group after gazing down at the vast wilderness of Alaska while on a hunting trip near Fairbanks. He realized how secluded parts of the state are, where animals behave freely, away from human presence. During a subsequent meeting with wildlife officials who were documenting predator populations in Anchorage parks, he observed them set up a trap and three webcams following a moose kill.

Inspired by these sightings, Cantil set up a simple camera and ultimately recorded his first animal: a wolverine. This marked the beginning of his passion for wildlife filming, leading him to create the Facebook page in 2017. During one of his hikes, he met Shaw, a retired science education professor, who quickly became captivated by his camera footage and encouraged him to let her see more.

“At some point, he got tired of my constant requests and suggested, ‘Why not get your own camera?’” Shaw recalled, laughing. That moment kicked off her newfound hobby, starting with a single camera strapped to a tree. Now, she manages nine cameras, seven actively placed in Far North Bicentennial Park — a massive 4,000-acre park that stretches along the breathtaking Chugach Mountains east of Anchorage.

Shaw has strategically set up her cameras between a quarter-mile to a half-mile from the Chugach Foothills neighborhood. She frequently shares interesting footage on the Facebook group, alongside contributions from Cantil’s three cameras.

“I knew wildlife was present since I occasionally encountered moose or bears on the trails, but the sheer amount of wildlife I unlocked with these cameras astonished me,” Shaw shared. To maintain the cameras, she changes batteries and memory cards weekly, walking into the forest armed with safety gear including an air horn, bear spray, and a .44 caliber handgun for protection.

Many followers of the Facebook group are local Anchorage residents eager to learn about which animals are currently roving the trails, while others come from different states, captivated by the wild beauty captured on camera. Shaw estimates that every few weeks, her cameras spot solitary wolves and sometimes entire packs; this year she was amazed to witness five wolves moving silently in a line.

Just last month, in the midst of gathering memory cards, Shaw stumbled upon moose fur near two of her cameras. After discovering disturbed soil indicative of a bear’s kill site, she presumed it to be another moose taken by a black bear, similar to past occurrences. However, when she reviewed the footage, it revealed wolves attacking the moose calf, while the distressed mother attempted to fend them off using her legs.

The demand for updates on the Facebook group continues to grow, but Shaw remains content with her current camera setup. “I think I’ve hit my camera limit,” she said with a smile. “Nine seems to be enough!”