The Black Lake-Chignik Lake area harbors one of the most dense seasonal concentrations of brown bears in North America. The tributaries of the Chignik and Alec Rivers (Chignik Unit) provide the best example on the Refuge of high concentrations of spawning sockeye salmon and the large number of brown bears they attract. As many as 500 bears congregate on these streams during August. Although this type of value is found on other rivers in the region, the size of the run and the number of bears that depend on it are truly exemplary on these streams.

P. O. Box 277; MS 545
King Salmon, Alaska 99613
Phone: (907)246-3339