Wilderness Island Tours outlines safety protocols for icy strait eagle tours

Wilderness Island Tours details small-group safety protocols behind its Icy Strait Eagle Tour, a wildlife viewing excursion based in Hoonah, Alaska.

Icy Strait Hoonah, United States, September 17, 2026 -- HOONAH, AK — Wilderness Island Tours, a locally owned excursion operator based in Hoonah, Alaska, has outlined the safety and small-group protocols that guide its Icy Strait Eagle Tour, a land-based wildlife viewing excursion on Chichagof Island. The company said the disclosure is intended to give visitors a clearer understanding of how it manages close wildlife encounters to remain low-impact and respectful of natural habitats. The announcement comes as the operator moves through its seasonal excursion schedule, which runs from spring through fall each year.

Wildlife tourism in Southeast Alaska continues to draw significant visitor interest, with the region's Inside Passage waterways and old-growth forests supporting dense populations of eagles, bears and marine mammals. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Tongass National Forest, which encompasses Chichagof Island, is the largest national forest in the country and provides habitat for one of the highest concentrations of bald eagles in North America. That ecological density has made structured, guide-led viewing protocols increasingly relevant to operators working in the area.

The Icy Strait Eagle Tour runs in passenger vans limited to small groups, a format the company says lets guides maintain closer oversight of viewing distances and passenger movement near active habitat. Guides, lifelong residents of Hoonah, are trained to identify safe observation points along the island's remote road system and adjust routes based on real-time animal activity rather than fixed stops. The company operates under a Special Use Permit issued by the Tongass National Forest, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which governs access to portions of the route.

Protocols detailed by the company include maintaining set distances from nesting and perching sites, limiting time spent at any single viewing location, and briefing passengers before departure on expected behavior around wildlife. Guides also monitor weather and animal movement patterns throughout each excursion, adjusting timing or routes when conditions warrant. The company noted that sightings of eagles and other wildlife vary by day, as animals remain in their natural, unconfined habitat throughout the tour.

“The protocols we follow are built around keeping both our guests and the wildlife safe, which means slowing down, keeping groups small, and letting the animals set the pace of any encounter,” said the Operations Manager of Wilderness Island Tours. “Our guides grew up on this island, and that familiarity with the land is part of how we manage these excursions responsibly.”

About Wilderness Island Tours: Wilderness Island Tours is an Alaska Native, Tlingit-owned and operated excursion company based in Hoonah, Alaska, on Chichagof Island. The company provides land-based wildlife viewing and cultural shore excursions for cruise passengers and independent visitors, operating under a Special Use Permit from the Tongass National Forest, USDA, with tours led by lifelong Hoonah residents.

Visitors planning a Southeast Alaska port stop and interested in structured, guide-led wildlife viewing can review scheduling and route details for the Icy Strait Eagle Tour from Wilderness Island Tours at Wilderness Island Tours - Icy Strait Eagle Tour.

Contact Info:
Name: Press Relations
Email: Send Email
Organization: Wilderness Island Tours
Phone: +19076120938
Website: https://wildernessislandtours.com/

Release ID: 89203491

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