About Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a non-profit wildlife sanctuary located on 200 acres at the entrance to Portage Valley, about 11 miles southeast of Girdwood on the Seward Highway. Since its founding, the centre has rescued and rehabilitated injured and orphaned Alaskan wildlife, providing permanent homes for animals that cannot be returned to the wild — including brown bears, black bears, moose, muskox, caribou, wolves, wood bison, elk, and porcupines.
Visitors explore a scenic 1.5-mile loop on foot, by bike, or by car, with interpretive signs at each habitat explaining the animals' stories and the ecology of Southcentral Alaska. Daily educational programmes include animal encounter tours, guided Moose Encounters, Bear Encounters, and Walk on the Wild Side Tours that offer close-up interactions with resident animals and their care staff. The centre is open daily from Memorial Day through early September.
Beyond the visitor experience, AWCC plays a critical conservation role — they led the programme to reintroduce wood bison to Alaska after a 100-year absence, starting in 2003. The centre is a favourite stop for families travelling between Anchorage and Seward, and the combination of genuine conservation work and accessible wildlife viewing makes it one of the most impactful wildlife attractions in the state.
