Meet the Coyotes of Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

PORTAGE, AK—The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) announced its resident coyotes have moved into their new enclosure and are on display to the public.

Meet Togiak, the male coyote who came from a litter that was living in a den in the flight path at the military base in Anchorage, Alaska. When the United States Department of Agriculture went to relocate the den, Togiak was left behind by his family and was transferred to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in 2016. Aurora, the female coyote, has a similar story to Togiak; she was discovered on the runway of the military base, her mother and littermates nowhere to be found. She was relocated to AWCC in 2017. Togiak was named after the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge by Ahklun Mountains in southwest Alaska. Aurora was named after the ever-popular northern lights, known as the Aurora Borealis. Aurora is smaller in size and has distinguished colored markings on her body.

The coyotes can be seen in their new exhibit, next to the cow elk herd and behind the Be Wild Gift Shop, near the bird mews. On Sunday April 21, AWCC will be hosting its annual Easter Eggstravganza event and will feature a Meet the Coyotes animal program at 2:30 p.m. Participate in the animal program to learn about the resident coyotes, their wild counterparts, and ask questions.