Alaska is one of the coldest states found at the northwest corner of North America.Despite being the largest state in the U.S it is devoid of snakes. Except for a few garter snakes that visit rarely and a few pet snakes like the ball python and northern rubber boa there aren’t any naturally occurring snakes in Alaska.If you are a snake or reptile lover, this might be a boring spot for you to visit. But if you are someone who is afraid of poisonous snakes and reptiles, this is the perfect vacation spot for you. There is much more interesting wildlife in Alaska, which has caught the attention of people from all over the world. The state is very different from other island regions that are snake free. Keep reading to find out why. We have curated a bunch of fun facts along with knowledgeable information for you. Do not miss out on them and once you have finished this article do check out our other articles on water snake facts and are there snakes are in new Zealand?Why are there no snakes in Alaska?We cannot say the state is completely free of snakes. There are no native snakes in Alaska but this does not mean the people in Alaska have never encountered a poisonous or venomous snake.There have been sightings of the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and other garter snakes from time to time. However, this has not been confirmed. Not only live snakes but also dead snakes were also found during the winter seasons. These were said to be intentionally released and not naturally occurring snakes. There have not been many sightings since the ’70s when garter snakes were sighted near the southeast hot springs.The main reason why Alaska is devoid of snakes, be it venomous or non-venomous snakes is its cold climatic conditions. Snakes are cold blooded reptiles who cannot generate their own body heat with the change in temperatures especially during the winter seasons when it is most essential. Unlike other warm blooded reptiles such as lizards, these cold blooded reptiles will not be able to survive the cold temperature. Even if they visit occasionally, cold blooded reptiles are not capable of breeding under such circumstances. The fluids in their body will freeze in such conditions. Not just snakes but there are no reptiles in Alaska except for the rare sightings of sea turtles. Experts say that Alaska might not have always been devoid of snakes. 55 million years ago records state that there were palm trees in Alaska based on this it was concluded that the temperature and climatic conditions back then would have been suitable for snakes and other cold blooded reptiles to inhabit regions of Alaska.Fun fact: Despite being free of snakes the state has legalized having pet snakes. Non venomous snakes can also be imported. All other places like Hawaii, Ireland, Iceland, New Zealand, Greenland, and Antarctica that have no snakes have imposed strict laws regarding the import of snakes and about having snakes as pets.Hawaii and Alaska are the two states with the least number of snakes, with very few non evidential sightings of the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and few other garter snake species.What is the most common animal in Alaska?Brown bears, also known as grizzly bears are the most common animals in Alaska. Apart from that other species like Alaskan moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and gray wolves are also common in Alaska.Brown bears (Ursus arctos horribilis): The brown in the center parts of Alaska are often known as Grizzlies. They are found throughout the state. Almost 30,000 wild brown bears out of all the 55,000 brown bears in North America are found in Alaska. This means the state holds 70 percent of the total brown bear population in North America. They are absent only in certain areas like islands south of Frederick sound (southeast Alaska) and islands in the Bering sea. They can attack humans. Alaska has reported 66 bear attacks in 17 years. Brown bears are apex predators and are also very dangerous.Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas): This is the largest species of moose. The Alaskan moose is also the largest animal in Alaska. Alaskans are more threatened by the moose than the brown bear. There are at least 5-10 attacks every year. But they are not very serious or fatal. Around 1,75,000 - 2,00,000 moose are found throughout the state. 20 - 30 moose are killed every year due to road accidents. They may forest regions and are very intimidating.Caribou (Rangifer tarandus): Caribous are not as common as they used to be. There were around 325000 caribous. The numbers have been facing a steady decline due to climate changes, habitat loss, and extensive hunting. Their population in the northern parts has declined by 50 percent. Did you know, caribou is the only reindeer species in which both males and females grow antlers. The arctic has lost around 2.6 million caribous in just 20 years.Gray wolf (Canis lupus pambasileus): Gray wolves are also very common in Alaska. There are around 7000 - 11000 wolves in Alaska. Most of them tend to die due to diseases, malnutrition, and hunting for their skin. The wolf species have never faced a population decrease in Alaska. They are spread throughout the mainland. The Alaskan gray wolf weighs 85 to 115 lb (38.6-52.3 kg).Dall sheep (Ovis dalli): The Dall sheep is a wild sheep whose population in Alaska was around 56,740. The population has been seeing a fall in recent years. Apart from the harsh winters of the country extensive predatory attacks by the gray wolves, golden eagles and grizzly bears have put them in danger. Habitat loss also had a major impact on the species. The brooks mountain range in Alaska has the most number of Dall sheep. The range holds 15-20 percent of the world Dall sheep population. The horns of this sheep, made out of keratin can take as long as eight years to grow and the growth rings on these horns help calculate the age of the sheep.What animal does not live in Alaska?All over the world, there are numerous reptile species. There is a total of 11,440 reptiles in the world. But none except for a few sea turtles are found in the state. There are no native snake species.Researchers state they have especially searched the northern parts of Alaska in hopes to find at least a few snakes but in vain. The search was conducted based on a report about sightings of a ball python. Eventually, it was confirmed that the ball python was a pet snake that had slipped outside to take a good walk. In a state where snakes are completely absent, this news created quite a stir. Sea turtles are almost common in all islands. It is weird that only a few like leatherback sea turtles (the world’s largest sea turtle) green sea turtles, Olive Ridley sea turtles, and loggerhead sea turtles. Only countable reports have been made on the sightings of all these turtles. There are no lizards either. There are no poisonous creatures either. The only venomous species is the hobo spider. The hobo spider is non aggressive but can bite when treated harshly like rubbing or swatting. It is not a great threat to humans as the venom is weak. A myth that these spiders can cause necrotic lesions has made humans keep a safe distance from them. However, these were assumptions made initially when the spider was not studied properly. Several species like the mammoth, mastodon, dire wolf, saber toothed tiger, and long horned bison are nowhere to be found in the state as they have been hunted extensively. They were happily roaming the Alaskan areas thousands of years ago.What kind of wild cats live in Alaska?The wildlife in Alaska is diverse. There are several species of birds and animals. But there are only one wild cat species.Lynx is a wild cat that is common throughout the mainland of the state. It is the only native wild cat of Alaska. Lynx is a solitary animal that is shy. Alaskans think they are less in number as they do not come out of their habitats most of the time due to their timid nature. Lynx are also nocturnal animals that are spotted together in pairs only during the breeding season Females are more aggressive than males. They mainly live in thick, tree filled areas and also tundra regions. Lynx feeds on mice squirrels and even the Dall sheep and Caribou in extreme situations where food is not available and they are pushed towards starvation. It is very similar to a bobcat but has long legs and furry feet their broad feet are covered with fur which helps them move actively during the winter without having frostbite. Lynx are excellent hunters that mostly travel at a moderate speed but can be steadfast when they spot their prey. They might look cute just like your other fluffy pets but beware, they are strong aggressive animals that tend to attack humans if threatened. The exact lynx population of the state has not been computed as the population size keeps fluctuating, depending upon the population of the two hare species in Alaska, which are a major part of the lynx diet. Every year when there is a spike in the number of hares the number of lynx automatically increases and vice versa.Lynx fun facts: Just like your pet cats lynx are very curious animals. This curiosity has become an advantage to hunters who use it as a technique to lure them into traps. They use shiny and other fancy objects to get their attention.They have powerful eyesight and can even spot a small rat that is at a distance of 250 ft (76.2 m).The sense of hearing is not as good as their eyesight. So they have distinct ear tufts that help enhance hearing.If you are in Alaska and hear a hiss or meow noise in the middle of the night don’t run out looking for a cat. You might find these wild cats instead. The noises they make are very similar to the ones that pet cats emit. Don’t be fooled!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Are There Snakes in Alaska? then why not take a look at African grey lifespan: amaze-wing bird facts for curious kids, or Are Seals Dangerous? Amazing Marine Mammals Fun Facts For Kids facts pages?
Alaska is one of the coldest states found at the northwest corner of North America.
