Alaska Wildlife photos
Coastal brown bear in a meadow of lupine wildflowers, Katmai National Park, Alaska Peninsula, southwest Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Alaska Wildlife
Alaska is a dream destination for any wildlife photographer, offering a remarkable range of biodiversity across its vast and varied landscapes. From the coastal rainforests of the Southeast to the windswept tundra of the Arctic, the state presents unparalleled opportunities to observe and capture animals in their natural habitats—many of which are found nowhere else in the United States. As a photographer, it’s not just the sheer abundance of wildlife that stands out, but also the raw, unfiltered access to nature that Alaska provides. I’ve spent countless hours observing and photographing these amazing creatures–from grizzly bears, polar bears, moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, all the Alaska wildlife photos below are available for purchase as stock photography or fine art prints to display in your home or office.
But ultimately, photographing wildlife in Alaska isn’t just about getting the shot—it’s about bearing witness. The state’s unspoiled beauty and ecological richness deserve both admiration and protection, and photography can be a powerful tool for sharing these stories with the world.
Polar bear sow and cub walk along a barrier island at sunset in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Beaufort Sea, Arctic, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Alaska Wildlife Species
Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)
A young grizzly bear rests on the spring tundra in front of Denali, National Park, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Coastal Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
One of the most iconic subjects is the brown bear, especially along the Katmai coast or in the salmon-rich rivers of Lake Clark and Brooks Falls. Watching these powerful animals fish, spar, and care for cubs at close range—often against dramatic mountain backdrops—is a highlight of any Alaskan portfolio. Timing and patience often pay off with stunning, behavior-rich images.
Brown bear catches a leaping red salmon on the Brooks Falls, Brooks River, Katmai National Park, southwest Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
In the Interior and Arctic regions, caribou herds sweep across the tundra, polar bears swim in Beaufort Sea, wolves roam river valleys, and muskoxen endure fierce winter conditions—all offering rare chances to photograph true wilderness species on the move. As light changes dramatically with the seasons—from endless summer daylight to the dusky glow of Arctic winter—photographers are gifted not only with subject matter, but also with the moody, changing atmospheres that bring these wild stories to life.
Polar bear sow and cub sit at the water’s edge on a barrier island in the Beaufort Sea, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris)
Collared pika, Denali National Park, Alaska (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Black bear fish for pink salmon in a stream along western Prince William Sound, Chugach National Forest, Kenai Peninsula, Southcentral, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Coyote
Coyote, Denali National Park, Interior, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis)
Young Sitka black-tailed deer with antlers in spring velvet, Kodiak Island, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Beaver (Castor canidensis)
Beaver swims in a pond along the Chena Hot Springs road, Interior, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Muskox (Ovibos moschatus)
Bull muskox on the snow-covered tundra of the Arctic North Slope, Alaska (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
Mountain goat, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Kenai Peninsula, southcentral, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Dall Sheep (Ovis dali)
An adult, full curl Dall sheep ram on the snow-covered tundra of the Brooks Range mountains in Alaska’s Arctic. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Barren Ground Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
Bull caribou with shedding velvet antlers on the autumn tundra north of the Brooks Range, Arctic, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
American Plains Bison (Bison bison bison)
The American plains bison roamed Alaska in large numbers many years ago, but the small numbers that roam wild now are the result of a transplanted group from Montana in 1928. There are a few small wild herds in Interior Alaska and some domestic herds. Wild bison here south of Delta Junction, Interior, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Red Fox (Vulpes fulva)
A red fox stands on the snow-covered tundra of Alaska’s Arctic North Slope (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus)
An Arctic fox in a white winter coat rests in a snowdrift along a lake in Alaska’s Arctic North Slope. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Moose (Alces gigas)
Two silhouetted bull moose spar on a mountain ridge in Denali National Park, Interior, Alaska (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Wolf from the Grant Creek pack, Denali National Park, Interior, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)
Canada lynx on the tundra in Denali National Park, Interior, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
Canada lynx on the tundra in Denali National Park, Interior, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata)
Hoary Marmot stands upright, on alert, on a mountain ridge in Denali National Park, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Alaska Marmot (Marmota broweri)
Alaska marmot finds shelter among the rocks along Archimedes ridge, Utukok Uplands, National Petroleum Reserve Alaska, Arctic, Alaska. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii)
Arctic Ground Squirrel, Denali National Park, Alaska (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
Wolverine on the snowy tundra near the Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline in Arctic, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus)
Snowshoe hare in white winter fur, Brooks Range, Alaska. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
Short-tailed Weasel (Mustela erminea)
A short-tailed weasel stands up by a water barrel Alaska Range mountains. (Patrick J Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)
American Mink (Neovison vison)
American mink travels the thin icy stream surface during freeze up in Alaska’s Interior. (Patrick J. Endres / AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com)