Orca ID Lab and Whale Watching on the Salish Sea

The beautiful San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington are one of the best places in the world to spot orca whales in the wild. All Roads North will arrange a private session at the Orca ID Lab at the Whale Museum and Research Center. During this session, you’ll get an insider’s look into the museum’s important research promoting stewardship of the Salish Sea’s whales. Your time in the research lab will focus on the orca’s ‘family trait’ markings, as well as their communication. Armed with a deepened knowledge of the orcas, take to sea to encounter these stunning mammals in their natural habitat on a whale-watching trip. Together with your engaging naturalist and captain, you’ll scan the surface for ‘blows and fins.” In addition to orcas, you may spot minke whales, humpback whales, gray whales, porpoises, sea otters and an astounding variety of coastal birds.

Pairs well with: Olympic Peninsula and San Juan Islands: Coastal Wanderings

See Turtle Hatchlings at Little St. Simons Island

Accessible only by boat, Little St. Simons Island was initially purchased by a pencil company for its abundant stands of cedar but–thankfully for us– the trees were too crooked to be harvested. The Georgia property accommodates just 32 guests at a time, who are able to enjoy the 10,000 acres of moss-draped live oak, saltmarsh, and deserted beaches all to themselves. In the summer, the sandy beaches are a prime nesting ground for loggerhead turtles, setting the stage for one of the most magical experiences to be had here at Little St. Simons. From July through August, tiny hatchlings emerge from their sandy nests and dash to the tideline to begin their lives at sea. In celebration of this age-old annual ritual, the Island hosts evening beach walks, presentations, and post-hatch nest inventories dedicated to exploring the wonderful world of sea turtles.

Pairs well with: Charleston, Savannah and the Golden Isles

Kayak Through the Louisiana Bayou 

With an experienced local guide at the lead, kayak into the hauntingly beautiful waterways of South Louisiana and witness the gamut of wildlife coexisting in the marsh. Moss-draped cypress trees growing straight out of the water serve as the backdrop to many different species’ home. Expect to see anything and everything from alligators, egrets, turtles, and a spectacular array of birds. Your passionate guide will be well-equipped to provide further information on any flora or fauna that catches your eye, with fifteen years of experience paddling these waterways under her belt.

Pairs well with: The Best of New Orleans and Cajun Country

See Bears Fish for Leaping Salmon in Katmai National Park

When it comes to wildlife, there are few sights as iconic as a bear hunting salmon leaping from a river. Although the image may be prominent in the cultural imagination, it certainly isn’t easy to come by. The phenomenon can be seen for just a few summer weeks in specific areas of Alaska. Katmai National Park is renowned for its bear viewing site at Brooks Falls. A bear must eat a full year’s worth of food in six to eight months to ensure its survival, so Katmai’s bears congregate around rich and concentrated sources of food. In this case: salmon. During the peak of the salmon migration in July, bears fish for salmon all along the Brooks River, but they especially focus their efforts at Brooks Falls– making for the perfect photo op.

Pairs well with: Luxury Alaska Adventures on the Kenai Peninsula

Photograph Migrating Sandhill Cranes 

Bosque Del Apache is a beautiful and wild wetland in the New Mexico desert. Situated between the Chupadera Mountains and the San Pascual Mountains, the refuge was founded in 1939 as a critical stopover site for migrating waterfowl, including snow geese, ducks and even bald eagles. However, Bosque del Apache is perhaps most famous for drawing thousands of migrating sandhill cranes. With over 30,000 acres of Bosque del Apache designated wilderness, there’s endless possibilities for exploration. Wildlife photography is a priority public use on national wildlife refuges, and we’ll make sure you find wildlife drives, blinds, and overlooks to get the perfect snapshot by pairing you with an expert wildlife photographer. Your guide knows the landscapes and the birds well, providing the knowledge you need to best experience this wonderful reserve. Hosts of cranes taking flight together above the marshy water of the New Mexico wetland makes for a poignant photograph, and a memory that will live forever in your mind.

Pairs well with: Back to the Future in New Mexico

The post Wildlife Encounters on the Water appeared first on All Roads North.

Without appropriate wildlife crossings in place, roads break up natural habitats forcing animals to attempt dangerous crossings as they follow their natural instinct to migrate or hunt– leading to road kill and increased competition for territory within the species. We sat down with wildlife and road ecology experts to learn about the ambitious wildlife crossing projects in some of our favorite areas of the country and how we can all help protect nature while enjoying the Great American road trip. 

Why Wildlife Crossings Are Important

We all have seen roadkill laying by the wayside before. It’s easy to conceptualize the effect of animal collisions and, while that certainly is a big concern, it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the effects of roads on wildlife. Road ecology is the field of science dedicated to understanding what all of those impacts are and what we can do about them.

Migration

For example, roads increasingly thwart migration pathways for animals like elk, pronghorn antelope and deer. 

Taylor Phillips, Wyldlife Fund board member and founder of Wildlife Tourism for Tomorrow, said facilitating migration is one of the top goals of wildlife crossings in the Wyoming area.

“For animals like mule deer, elk, pronghorn– the places where they spend their summers are very different than where they spend their winter months,” Phillips said. “Their habitats are spread out over the larger landscapes, so it’s very important there is connectivity between the habitat types.”

Genetic Inbreeding

However, many other kinds of animals– like grizzly bears, wolves and other large carnivores– also utilize wildlife crossings, but for different reasons. 

“The genetic consequences of highways are immense– especially on large carnivores which need a lot of space,” said Ben Goldfarb, a journalist and writer who’s been researching road ecology for the past few years for his upcoming book on the subject.

Goldfarb’s interest in habitat connectivity and road ecology first began in the Rocky Mountains as well, in 2013 when he visited the wildlife crossing over Highway 93. He said that because roads were increasingly cutting into habitats, large carnivores like grizzly bears were forced to inbreed with a much smaller pool of potential mates.

“You can take a DNA sample of any grizzly bear in the American West and know what side of which highway it was born on because roads so thoroughly fragment their habitat,” Goldfarb said.

Mountain lions suffer similar problems much farther south in the Santa Monica Mountains, as Executive Director of Santa Monica Mountains Fund Charlotte Parry explains.

“Because of the roads, the population is very isolated and so there is starting to be a level of inbreeding between the mountain lions which leads to genetic weakness within the animals,” Parry said. “Also, the older animals are attacking the younger animals. The wildlife crossing will allow them to access more territory.”

Because they are such territorial creatures, many young male mountain lions face a difficult decision: attempt to dart across congested freeways in a bid for new territory or combat older male mountain lions (often their own fathers). Both scenarios frequently end in the untimely deaths of the young lions. 

Prominent Wildlife Crossing Projects

Trapper’s Point Wildlife Crossing in the Grand Tetons

In the past decade, new research concerning wildlife behaviors and movements has allowed support for wildlife crossings to really take off. Goldfarb says this enthusiasm stems from research that proves the crossings are successful, not only at preventing animal and human deaths, but also because of economical interests. After all, animal collisions are not only dangerous; they are expensive.

“There have been a bunch of studies showing that fences and crossings together are really good at preventing collisions, at keeping human drivers safe, and actually they save a lot of money in the long run,” Goldfarb said.

In the fall of 2012, eight wildlife crossing structures were completed along a 12-mile stretch of Highway 191 at Trapper’s Point.

“Now, the momentum is strong for more and more crossings,” Phillips said. “Funding was recently established by the Wyldlife Fund for the Interstate 25 crossing. Crossings are slated now in the Dubois area and Kemmerer region of Wyoming as well.”

Another recent and notable project, the Wallis-Annenberg Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon spanning the 101 freeway outside of Los Angeles will service the local mountain lions and many other animals– even birds and insects. The $87 million project broke ground this April of 2022. 

Parry noted that the 101 Crossing led to more state money being appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom for future crossings and set an important precedent.

“What they’ve done is to effectively normalize wildlife crossings,” Parry said. “They’ve shown that this is an important part of road building, that you need to include wildlife crossings as part of planning for road building.”

How You Can Help

All Roads North trips will pair you with conservation and wildlife experts that will teach you more about the animals and manifold impacts of roads in their specific region, from Wyoming to California. Here are some of our favorite itineraries in areas with fantastic wildlife crossings projects:

Yellowstone and Grand Teton Trip

The Ultimate California Family Road Trip

You also can help reconnect animal habitats by supporting conservation organizations like the ones below:

• Arc Solutions – Technical analysis and support for wildlife crossing structures.
  
• Center for Large Landscape Conservation – On a mission to protect life on Earth by promoting ecological connectivity to support healthy wildlife habitats and safeguard nature’s resilience to climate change.

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