McNeil River and Walrus Island Wildlife Permits Available Now
- ADF&G Press Release
Cora Campbell, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811
Phone: (907) 465-6166 - Fax: (907) 465-2332
Press Release: No. 11-04, January 26, 2011
Contact: Ed Weiss, Lands & Refuge Manager, 907-267-2189
McNeil River and Walrus Island Wildlife Permits Available Now
(Juneau) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is now accepting wildlife viewing permit applications for McNeil River and Walrus Island, two of Alaska’s premier wildlife viewing destinations. Easy online access to the wildlife viewing permit applications for McNeil River and Walrus Islands state game sanctuaries is available at www.wildlife.alaska.gov through the “Refuges and Sanctuaries” link.
“Summer is just around the corner and we want to ensure folks plan ahead and get their viewing permit applications in now,” said Ed Weiss, Lands and Refuges Manager, ADF&G. “The application period to view the world’s largest concentration of brown bears at McNeil River this year will be closing soon.”
Applications to view brown bears at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary must be received online or by mail by March 1. There is a non-refundable application fee of $25 per person. Up to three people may apply on each application. Applicants are entered into a lottery and if drawn, pay a $150 permit fee for Alaska residents and $350 for non-residents.
Applications are also available to visit Round Island, within the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary, and view one of the largest Pacific walrus haulouts. The Round Island permit fee is $50 per person for a five day camping and viewing permit. Day use permits are available for $10 per person per day. There is no permit submission deadline, but applications are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tom Griffin (manager of the McNeil River sanctuary) and Stephanie Sell (manager of the Walrus Islands sanctuary) encourage Alaska’s residents and visitors to take advantage of our own world-class wildlife viewing destinations.
Applications and additional permit information may be found at the ADF&G web site at www.wildlife.alaska.gov or by calling (907) 267-2182.
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