The Last Frontier may not have a high crime rate or very many natural disasters to speak of, but it does have killer mosquitos, slippery sidewalks, and wildlife that’s not afraid to charge at you! Think you can survive living in Alaska? If you’re thinking about moving to Alaska, you may want to check out this list of dangerous things in Alaska before you start packing.
- Moose Attack
Al_HikesAZ | Flickr Moose attacks are a very real possibility when you are living in Alaska. Even the cop cars are armored with massive bumpers so as to fend off rude, unwelcome moose around public areas or highways. Moose wound anywhere from 5-10 Alaskans annually.
- Bear Charge
Marshmallow | Flickr Just like moose, bear are everywhere in Alaska and they are not afraid to attack you. If you’re out hiking in Alaska you need to be aware of your surroundings or wildlife can easily bite you in the butt.
- Bad Drivers
Craig Cloutier | Flickr Snow happens a LOT in Alaska and consequentially so do bad drivers. If you’re out on the roads after a decent snowfall be extra cautious, there is a reason every car in Alaska, new or old, has a dent in it!
- Walking on Ice
LHOON | Flickr With bad weather comes bad road and sidewalk conditions. It’s all out to get you! Be careful in the morning when walking from your front door to the car with a cup of joe. Even a slight slip can send your hot beverage flying everywhere!
- Freezing to Death
Steve Evans | Flickr It’s important to come in from the cold. In Alaska, an average of 140 people die from freezing to death outside each year! Don’t get caught in bad weather without proper attire, and store a spare coat in your trunk in case your car breaks down!
- Tsunami Zone
Coco et Jo | Flickr Alaska has 6,640 miles of coastline so a tsunami would not be unheard of. Alaska is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active area known for causing earthquakes and tsunamis. Alaska’s 9.2-magnitude earthquake in 1964 was the strongest ever recorded in the United States.
- Road Construction
Chris Lasher | Flickr Alaskans often say there are two seasons: winter and construction. Construction is a very obnoxious time suck in Alaska that we just have to deal with.
- Bad Cell Service
Frankieleon | Flickr Cell phone service is definitely lacking in Alaska. You may not even realize how much you rely on your phone till you get up here and realize that you’re without communication or GPS. There’s nothing that will make you want to throw your phone on the ground and stomp the screen than bad service. We won’t blame you if your phone looks like this after just a week or two in Alaska.
- Mosquitoes
Calafellvalo | Flickr Everyone who’s ever thought about moving to Alaska has heard of the dreaded mosquitos. They are most definitely real, but they aren’t “the size of a football.” We’ve got 35 species of mosquitoes here, and many joke that they are our official state bird.
We know these things make living in Alaska somewhat difficult, but in our view, the Last Frontier is totally worth these inconveniences.
Al_HikesAZ | Flickr
Moose attacks are a very real possibility when you are living in Alaska. Even the cop cars are armored with massive bumpers so as to fend off rude, unwelcome moose around public areas or highways. Moose wound anywhere from 5-10 Alaskans annually.
Marshmallow | Flickr
Just like moose, bear are everywhere in Alaska and they are not afraid to attack you. If you’re out hiking in Alaska you need to be aware of your surroundings or wildlife can easily bite you in the butt.
Craig Cloutier | Flickr
Snow happens a LOT in Alaska and consequentially so do bad drivers. If you’re out on the roads after a decent snowfall be extra cautious, there is a reason every car in Alaska, new or old, has a dent in it!
LHOON | Flickr
With bad weather comes bad road and sidewalk conditions. It’s all out to get you! Be careful in the morning when walking from your front door to the car with a cup of joe. Even a slight slip can send your hot beverage flying everywhere!
Steve Evans | Flickr
It’s important to come in from the cold. In Alaska, an average of 140 people die from freezing to death outside each year! Don’t get caught in bad weather without proper attire, and store a spare coat in your trunk in case your car breaks down!
Coco et Jo | Flickr
Alaska has 6,640 miles of coastline so a tsunami would not be unheard of. Alaska is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active area known for causing earthquakes and tsunamis. Alaska’s 9.2-magnitude earthquake in 1964 was the strongest ever recorded in the United States.
Chris Lasher | Flickr
Alaskans often say there are two seasons: winter and construction. Construction is a very obnoxious time suck in Alaska that we just have to deal with.
Frankieleon | Flickr
Cell phone service is definitely lacking in Alaska. You may not even realize how much you rely on your phone till you get up here and realize that you’re without communication or GPS. There’s nothing that will make you want to throw your phone on the ground and stomp the screen than bad service. We won’t blame you if your phone looks like this after just a week or two in Alaska.
Calafellvalo | Flickr
Everyone who’s ever thought about moving to Alaska has heard of the dreaded mosquitos. They are most definitely real, but they aren’t “the size of a football.” We’ve got 35 species of mosquitoes here, and many joke that they are our official state bird.
Can you think of any other risks of living in Alaska? Share your experiences in the comments!
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Address: Alaska, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Living in Alaska July 29, 2021 Lisa Sammons What are some more risks in Alaska? Well, for one, life is very expensive here. The cost of shipping goods here means that you’ll pay more for everything from bananas to concert tickets (if your favorite artists even bother to tour here!). You’ll also probably not get to enjoy much outdoor swimming like those in the lower 48 do. It takes ages to get anywhere, so forget about a quick road trip. For some more negatives, check out this list. What are some things to do in Alaska? We may be biased, but we think we’re the most beautiful state in the country, with no competition. We’ve got virtually unlimited outdoor activities. No matter what your favorite thing to do is outside, you can do it here. Snowboarding, skiing, hiking, fishing: pretty much everything that doesn’t require year-round warm temperatures can be done here. The sightseeing options are incredible, and we’ve got some pretty amazing wildlife. If you need a reminder of why you are considering moving to Alaska, check out this list of 20 benefits to living here! What are some natural wonders in Alaska? If you ask us, practically the entire state is a natural wonder. For a more detailed list, check this out. Does anything compare to Glacier Bay National Park? Or our many volcanoes? Don’t even get us started on Denali, the highest mountain in North America.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Living in Alaska
July 29, 2021
Lisa Sammons
What are some more risks in Alaska? Well, for one, life is very expensive here. The cost of shipping goods here means that you’ll pay more for everything from bananas to concert tickets (if your favorite artists even bother to tour here!). You’ll also probably not get to enjoy much outdoor swimming like those in the lower 48 do. It takes ages to get anywhere, so forget about a quick road trip. For some more negatives, check out this list. What are some things to do in Alaska? We may be biased, but we think we’re the most beautiful state in the country, with no competition. We’ve got virtually unlimited outdoor activities. No matter what your favorite thing to do is outside, you can do it here. Snowboarding, skiing, hiking, fishing: pretty much everything that doesn’t require year-round warm temperatures can be done here. The sightseeing options are incredible, and we’ve got some pretty amazing wildlife. If you need a reminder of why you are considering moving to Alaska, check out this list of 20 benefits to living here! What are some natural wonders in Alaska? If you ask us, practically the entire state is a natural wonder. For a more detailed list, check this out. Does anything compare to Glacier Bay National Park? Or our many volcanoes? Don’t even get us started on Denali, the highest mountain in North America.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Well, for one, life is very expensive here. The cost of shipping goods here means that you’ll pay more for everything from bananas to concert tickets (if your favorite artists even bother to tour here!). You’ll also probably not get to enjoy much outdoor swimming like those in the lower 48 do. It takes ages to get anywhere, so forget about a quick road trip. For some more negatives, check out this list.
What are some things to do in Alaska?
We may be biased, but we think we’re the most beautiful state in the country, with no competition. We’ve got virtually unlimited outdoor activities. No matter what your favorite thing to do is outside, you can do it here. Snowboarding, skiing, hiking, fishing: pretty much everything that doesn’t require year-round warm temperatures can be done here. The sightseeing options are incredible, and we’ve got some pretty amazing wildlife. If you need a reminder of why you are considering moving to Alaska, check out this list of 20 benefits to living here!
What are some natural wonders in Alaska?
If you ask us, practically the entire state is a natural wonder. For a more detailed list, check this out. Does anything compare to Glacier Bay National Park? Or our many volcanoes? Don’t even get us started on Denali, the highest mountain in North America.
