Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge covers two thirds of Kodiak Island, all of Ban Island, and part of Afognak Island.
The terrain is ruggedly mountainous, the valleys filled with willow thickets, grasslands, riparian cottonwoods, and, in some northern areas, spruce forest. The coastline is deeply incised with fjords and bays. The many lakes, streams and rivers support large runs of all five Pacific salmon species. More than 2,500 brown bears and 400 pairs of bald eagles depend upon these rich fish resources, as do subsistence and commercial fishermen. Mountain goat, elk (Afognak Island only), Sitka black-tailed deer, red fox, beaver, river otter, and up to two million seabirds inhabit the island. Visitors reach refuge lands by aircraft or boat to hunt bear, deer, and elk, fish for salmon and char, and view and photograph wildlife. Many visitors occupy public use cabins for which the refuge awards reservations by lottery.
