Friends of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge - FAR

Friends of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge - FAR FAR is a non-profit organization whose members and volunteers help take care of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. FAR has no physical office.

FAR's members and volunteers help steward the wildlife that depend upon the habitats of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and adjacent lands and waters. Through support friends, members, and volunteers learn about the needs of the Refuge and have opportunities over time to participate in projects designed to help manage or take care of important habitats and wildlife. Some projects are scienti

fic and include observation and data gathering efforts, some involve maintenance, and others are educational. The purposes for which Friends of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge-FAR- is organized are:

A. To maintain an association of persons interested in the conservation of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge (hereinafter called “the Refuge”), including Potter Marsh, in particular the protection of its unique and fragile subarctic salt-marsh ecosystem, and the abundance and diversity of its living organisms;

B. To work with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and other agencies and organizations, to support the efforts of these entities and of Friends of the Refuge towards Purpose (A);

C. To enhance opportunities for local residents and visitors to view and enjoy the Refuge, including Potter Marsh, to the extent these activities are consistent with Purpose (A);

D. To support educational activities that promote public understanding of the value of the Refuge, and awareness of the need to protect and conserve its ecosystem, to the extent these activities are consistent with Purpose (A);

E. To propose and support scientific investigation of the Refuge ecosystem, and to promote conservation and management of the Refuge that are based on sound scientific information about its species and habitats;

F. To promote and participate in fundraising activities for the benefit of the Refuge; and

G. To do and engage in any lawful activities that are in furtherance of one or more of the purposes enumerated herein and are within the rights and powers granted to non-profit corporations under the laws of the State of Alaska, and that are not inconsistent with exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

06/18/2026

Exciting news! A scientific paper on Cook Inlet beluga whales was published TODAY. This paper investigates beluga whale presence and anthropogenic activity in the Kenai River and Kasilof River using acoustic monitoring and visual observations data from the AKBMP. Congratulations to Sonia Kumar and co-authors on publishing this important work! And thank you to our dedicated AKBMP volunteers for collecting data that complements this research. A link to the paper can be found below.

https://www.int-res.com/journals/esr/articles/esr01509

06/17/2026

Please respect breeding wildlife in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge

Breeding sandhill cranes, shorebirds and other waterfowl are extremely sensitive to disturbance from people, bikes, and pets. To protect wildlife, please:

◾Stay on established trails.
◾Avoid riding bicycles or e-bikes on the Anchorage coastal flats during peak bird use season from April 1 to November 15.
◾Leash your pet. Even leashed dogs resemble predators and may disturb breeding wildlife.
◾Remember: it is illegal for people and pets to harass wildlife. Please enjoy viewing from a safe distance.

The Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge extends sixteen miles along Anchorage's coastline from Point Woronzof to Potter Creek, providing excellent opportunities to view migrating snow geese and sandhill cranes.

06/03/2026

Looking for a fun activity this upcoming weekend? You are in luck!

On Saturday, June 6th, we will be tabling at ADF&G's Potter Marsh Discovery Day from 12-4PM! Stop by our table to learn more about Cook Inlet belugas, upcoming events, and look at cool marine mammal parts. This is a free, family-friendly event, and all are welcome. We look forward to seeing you!

More information can be found on the event webpage: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=anchoragecoastal.discoveryday

Please give wildlife the space it needs to thrive.
05/30/2026

Please give wildlife the space it needs to thrive.

Spring is here. It is the time when wildlife species are giving birth to young. The peak of moose calving for much of the state is approximately the week of May 20th.

There are many cow moose with new calves that they will aggressively defend! Don’t become complacent around moose. A protective mother can attack without notice. Give them plenty of space. If you see a cow moose (with or without a calf) don’t go near it. Take another route or a wide detour to safely get around it.
Yelling at moose and trying to intimidate them into moving along may backfire and make them more aggressive.

To report an aggressive moose or other wildlife encounters call your local ADF&G office or report online here:
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm...

Check out our Living with Wildlife web pages for lots more information about moose and bear safety.
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livewith.main

Check out this wildlife safety story about other wildlife species that may be protective of their young.
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm...

Images by Marian Snively.
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⭐️Today is the day! (5:30-7:30 pm) FAR encourages friends, volunteers, and nature lovers to attend and participate in th...
05/22/2026

⭐️Today is the day! (5:30-7:30 pm) FAR encourages friends, volunteers, and nature lovers to attend and participate in this master plan update process for Kincaid Park. Kincaid is a unique resource that serves diverse uses including a wide variety of outdoor sports. Let us help ensure that the education the public needs to treat park habitats respectfully so that nature in its diversity of plants and animals will also be here for future generations to learn from. Kincaid is a park with something for everyone. Let us make sure to add our voices and comments to continue to welcome quiet and perhaps slower moving users like photographers, artists, walkers, the handicapped, botanists, biologists, marine mammal biologists, etc. Come share your vision and stay involved. How can we encourage appreciation while preventing “loving it to death.” Consider how to prevent unnecessary erosion of the coastal bluffs. Consider the numerous species that also depend upon this park and the adjacent refuge. How can we wisely live with the wildlife we love in a popular city park? Talk with the planners and write down your thoughts and submit them. Planners truly want to hear what you have to say. Thank you, as always, for your time and consideration. ♥️🐸🎨🐻🫎🦅🦆🦊🐳🐞🐰🦉🐝🐦‍⬛🕸️🦋🐛🐾🌲🌳🌊

📣The Kincaid Park Master Plan update has OFFICIALLY begun!📣

This plan will help guide future park management and use, and community input is essential to shaping it. Want to know how to get involved? Consider taking the online survey to share your thoughts or joining us at the first public open house!

Kincaid Park Master Plan – Open House
📅 Thursday, May 28, 2026
⏰5:30 – 7:30 PM
📍Kincaid Park Chalet

Join us to learn more about the Master Plan process, ask questions, and share your vision, insights, and recommendations!

Learn more, submit comments, and sign up for updates at : https://www.muni.org/Departments/parks/Pages/KincaidMP.aspx

Tracks in spring….
05/20/2026

Tracks in spring….

Watch for banded lesser yellowlegs….
05/13/2026

Watch for banded lesser yellowlegs….

The Lesser Yellowlegs are coming back to Alaska! Many of these birds have completed an 8,000 mile journey from South America to build their nests in the moss and grass of our boreal forests and wetlands.

Banded birds can be seen in the Anchorage area, JBER, and Fairbanks. Keep an eye out for these banded birds and their band code to help ADF&G track the survival of the species.

Photo: Arin Underwood

05/12/2026

The best ways to help migratory birds…. Thanks to Anchorage Waterways Council!

01/05/2026

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Anchorage, AK
99502

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