Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center facts for kids
AWCC logo
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Wood Bison herd at the conservation center
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| Date opened | 1993 |
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| Location | Portage, Alaska |
| Land area | About 200 acres (81 ha) |
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is a special place in Alaska. It's a non-profit group that helps wild animals. They work to protect animals, do research, teach people, and care for animals. The center is huge, covering about 200 acres (about 81 hectares). It's located near Portage, a beautiful area in Alaska. You can find it at Milepost 79 on the Seward Highway.
AWCC is a safe home for animals that are orphaned or injured. It also provides a temporary home for animals born in captivity. Some animals, like wood bison, are moved here to help their species grow. The center gives these animals comfortable, permanent homes.
Contents
History of the Center
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center first opened in 1993. It was started by Mike Miller and was first called Big Game Alaska.
In 1999, the center became a non-profit organization. This means it's a group that uses its money to help its cause, not to make a profit. The center's name officially changed to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Inc. in 2007.
Meet the Animals
Many different animals live at the center. You can see:
- Timber wolves
- Grizzly bears
- Black bears
- Alaskan moose
- Red foxes
- Elk
- Muskoxen
- Sitka black-tailed deer
- Porcupine caribou
- Canadian lynxes
- Bald eagles
- Great horned owls
- Wood bison
- Porcupines
- Coyotes
Most of these animals live in very large, natural spaces. For example, three brown bears have a 21-acre (about 8.5-hectare) habitat. It has lots of trees and brush. Two black bears live in a 14-acre (about 5.7-hectare) area with a stream. This helps them feel at home.
Learning at the Center
The center offers many ways to learn about wildlife. You can take self-guided tours. You can also drive through or walk through the center. These programs teach visitors about Alaska's amazing animals.
Helping Wood Bison Return
The center plays a big role in helping animals. Since 2003, AWCC has been part of an important project. They are helping to bring wood bison back to Alaska. These large animals had been gone from Alaska for 100 years. Wood bison are the biggest land mammals in North America. They are very important for the environment.
In 2006, thirteen wood bison were moved to the center from Canada. Two years later, 53 more wood bison came from Elk Island National Park in Alberta, Canada. This project is a team effort. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and other groups are helping too.
Gallery
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A rescued bald eagle at the conservation center
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Bear at the center
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Elk (Cervus canadensis)
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Alaska moose (Alces alces gigas)
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Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) grazing at the center
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Wolves
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Two male caribou
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