Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery & Eagle Center
The Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center facility was built in 1954 by the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce’s King Salmon Derby Committee. The facility was originally managed by the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game. However in an agreement with the State of Alaska the Ketchikan Indian Community took operation in 1994. Through the vision of the Board of Directors Ketchikan Indian Community expanded the facility in 1998 to include the current Eagle Center. The official name change to Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Center occurred shortly thereafter.
The fishing industry provides over 1,500 seasonal jobs to the communities within the region. Commercial fishing harvest methods include: seining, gill netting, and trolling. The commercial fishing industry supports four canneries, three cold storage facilities and a fish processing plant in summer months. Additionally, the guided sport fishing and lodge industry has grown significantly and is now a major contributor to our local economies.
Our Alaskan native families rely on health salmon runs for their livelihoods and subsistence needs.
Fisheries Program
The Fisheries Enhancement Program is a year-round operation requiring professional knowledge and management experience of the stages and life cycles of the fish stocks. Our Fisheries Enhancement Program provides a diversified product that contributes in many ways to the local and regional economy. Currently enhancement totals include: 4,000 Steelhead released in Ketchikan Creek, of this 2,000 are reared to a catchable size for the “Kids Fishing Derby” held each June, King Salmon Program releases 100,000 into Ketchikan Creek, 75,000 Coho Salmon into Ketchikan Creek, and 75,000 Coho into Ward Lake.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game requires that a portion of our fish released must be tagged with a coded wire tag that determines brood year, species, and release site. We tag 11,000 King Salmon and 22,000 Coho Salmon (11,000 Ward Lake, 11,000 Ketchikan Creek). The Steelhead Trout are fin clipped only. Every year, return and harvest numbers are collected to show how many fish have been harvested and to predict future returns and stock.
The fish from the Hatchery contribute to the Salmon harvested in the common property fishery (subsistence, sport, charter, and commercial). Several communities surrounding the Ketchikan area also benefit (Metlakatla, Craig, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Pelican, Elfin Cove, and Hoonah). It is also important to know that we are the only source that enhances the stock at Ward Lake and the only hatchery in the state that does not currently receive financial assistance.
Eagle Center
Currently the DMTHEC has ten educational and display birds. All birds at the DMTHEC are permanent residents, as these animals cannot survive in the wild due to injuries or human imprinting. The bird collection at the DMTHEC is always being enhanced, as new birds are sought after to make the best collection possible. Current we have: 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Great-Horned Owls, 2 Red-Tailed Hawks, 1 Peregrine Falcon, and 1 Turkey Vulture. Some of the birds are on display for CPV passengers and crew to view and photograph, and others are used specifically in educational programs. All of the birds are unique and have individual aspects of their lives that make the natural history of each species a cornerstone in any educational message.
DMTHEC provides numerous educational opportunities in addition to the programs that are offered for cruise ship passengers and crew. Local and area schools, organizations, and groups take advantage of the vast diversity of the educational messages presented with the birds to enhance the curriculum and areas of study and interest that they may have. We also provide public presentations at various places such as the Discovery Center and other public venues.
Wildlife Rehabilitation
One of the most overlooked and underrated benefits to the community and region is that of wildlife rehabilitation. The incredible price that wildlife and the environment pay due to human activity is beyond measure. Simple injuries range from vehicle collisions to very complicated electrocutions.
By serving as first responders, the staff at the DMTHEC is always on call to help provide care for numerous wildlife injuries and environmental disasters (oil spills, etc.). All cases are investigated, and the best attempts are made to properly and effectively treat the injury as best as possible. DMTHEC is also a hub for injured birds for transport to other rehab facilities.
In cooperation with Southeast Alaska Petroleum Resource Organization (SEAPRO) DMTHEC maintains a Wildlife Response trailer on site. This facility is crucial in maintaining a high level of readiness and having immediate access to proper equipment. By exhibiting the capabilities and willingness of rehabilitation DMTHEC instills the confidence to know that any wildlife that is in need of care will be properly taken care of.
It is important that there is a qualified, experienced, dedicated, and willing facility in the region to prevent injuries, care for wildlife that has become injured or orphaned, and release eligible individuals back into the wild.
Examples of Programs and Services:
- Provide a unique experience combining culture and the environment
- Provide educational and informative tours on the Salmon life cycle and Hatchery operations
- Supply King and Coho salmon to elder residents and Tribal members in the Native Community
- Tours of the hatchery process and Eagle compound for the purpose of educating our community and visitors
- Enhance wild stocks of salmon in area water systems
- Educational programs on habitat preservation at local and regional venues
- Provide resources for the annual Kid’s Fishing Derby
Staff
Jerry Guthrie, Hatchery Manager, worked under George Carnes previous Hatchery Manager, for five years, training for the position as an Alaskan Native with an Associate Degree in Science of Aquaculture from Sheldon Jackson Junior College in Sitka, Alaska. Mr. Guthrie also has a one year and two year certificate in Fisheries. He has work experience since 1980 with Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture and for the State of Alaska as a Fisheries Technician III. In 1991 he began working for the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery as a Fish Technician II. In 1994 he began working for the Ketchikan Indian Corporation as the Assistant Hatchery Manager until 2000 when he assumed the position of Hatchery Manager.
Damon Hampel is the Eagle Center Curator with a BS in Park Management and Conservation with an emphasis in Interpretation. Before graduating from Kansas State University in 2003 he worked in and around the environment in numerous and various capacities. He also has the capacity to bolster education by being certified in such programs as: Project WET, Project WILD, project WILD Aquatic, and project Learning Tree. During his graduation year he worked in Missouri with the Department of Natural Resources in the State Park Division performing environmental education programs. After graduation he continued employment in Missouri leading cave tours, nature hikes, river walks, assisting in bat and cave research and delivering programs to local schools. After finishing a SCA position he took a job working with the University of Georgia at a 4H camp helping schools fulfill environmental curriculum standards and requirements. He then took a position as the Off-Site Program Coordinator at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain Georgia while also volunteering and working for the Bartlett Conservancy in Pike Road Alabama. During this time he was immersed in some of the best raptor wisdom and training techniques in the country. After five years of experience working with wildlife and raptors he is qualified with all the required hours and training to hold an Eagle Exhibition Permit.
April Thomas, Tour Operations Manager, is a 7 year hatchery tours veteran. In 2002 she graduated from the University of Alaska Southeast’s Licensed Practical Nurse program. She then went on to become a Certified Public Manager with an emphasis in Supervisory Management, a Career Development Facilitator and Certified Grant Writer. She currently sits on the board of Directors for Woman In Safe Homes (WISH), Ketchikan Visitors Bureau, and Gold Belt Native Corporation. She is a trainer for both the Alaska Host and Cultural Host Programs with the state of Alaska. April is currently taking courses at the University of Fairbanks for her Family Nurse Practitioner License.
Fun Facts
- Hatchery raised fish are NOT farm raised fish, there are drastic differences!
- Alaska has the highest population of Bald Eagles in the WORLD!
- There are five different species of pacific salmon, each with a “nickname” King or Chinook salmon, Silver or Coho salmon, Sockeye or red salmon, Chum or dog Salmon, and Pink or humpy salmon
- The return fish to the hatchery was a King salmon that weighed 54 pounds!
- All female raptors, including eagles, are 1/3 larger than the males!
- Over 30,000 people visit us every year.
- A portion of salmon that return to the hatchery from the wild are smoked and canned for you to enjoy!
Tour Information
The Deer Mountain Hatchery and Eagle Center provides guided and narrated tours to visitors and locals of the Hatchery facility and operations and of the Eagle Compound. We are open during the tour season which typically runs from late April to the middle of September. We also provide group tours during the off season by pre-arrangement.
Hours of Operation:
Daily
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closing time may be earlier later in the season as tourists numbers decrease)
Admissions:
Hatchery tour & eagle compound $12.00
Hatchery tour & eagles plus totem heritage $15.00
Hatchery tour & eagles plus birds of prey $20.00
eagle compound only $6.00
children 12 and under $5.00
* Ask about Military pricing
Contacts
Phone Numbers:
Hatchery (907) 228-5530
Jerry Guthrie, Hatchery Manager (907) 228-5531
Damon Hampel, Eagle Center Curator (907) 228-5533
April Thomas, Tour Operations Manager (907) 228-5537
Email:
Jerry Guthrie
Damon Hampel
April Thomas
Fax:
(907) 228-5548
Wildlife Emergencies:
(907) 228-5530
(907) 254-2301
(907) 617-5025
(907) 617-2830