Camp Island Alaska
CategoriesHistory, Karluk Lake by

Camp Island, Karluk Lake: A Journey Through Kodiak’s Past

Kodiak Island, Alaska’s “Emerald Isle,” is a land of rugged beauty and deep history. Within this expansive archipelago lies Camp Island, a distinct island in the middle of Karluk Lake on Kodiak’s southwest side.

This specific island, not other general “camps” on Kodiak, holds a unique historical narrative, from ancient indigenous life to modern conservation efforts.

A Place of Ancient Roots: Alutiiq Heritage on Karluk Lake

The Karluk Lake region, including Camp Island, has been continuously inhabited by the Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) people for over 6,000 to 7,500 years, making it a highly productive salmon system.

Hundreds of ancestral sites, over 46 in the Karluk area, are considered an “Alutiiq library” of their past. Early nomadic life evolved into sod dwellings, with a few large and small multi-room structures.

Archaeological finds include substantial salmon processing settlements from 300 years ago and 3,000-year-old sod homes.

The Alutiiq’s traditional knowledge and ancient stone fish weirs demonstrate their enduring connection to Karluk Lake, embodying the philosophy, “This is the land that we belong to, not the land that belongs to us“.

Camp Island & Karluk Lake: A Historical Snapshot

Year/Period

Event/Significance

7,500+ Yrs 

Alutiiq/Sugpiaq habitation of Karluk Lake area begins; nomadic tent living, early camps  

~4,000 Yrs

Focus on fishing intensifies, development of nets, larger settlements  

~800 Yrs

Population peak, large multi-room sod houses (ciqlluat), intensified salmon fishing  

1786

Russians establish trading post/salmon saltery at Karluk  

1882

First salmon cannery on Kodiak Island built at Karluk Spit  

1889

Biologists begin using Camp Island as a base camp for fisheries studies  

1927

U.S. Bureau of Fisheries (USBF) builds first cabin on Camp Island  

1930s

Karluk canneries close due to overfishing  

1941

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge established, encompassing Karluk Lake  

Present Day

Camp Island hosts Kodiak Brown Bear Center & Lodge, owned by Alutiiq people, focusing on conservation and bear viewing  

Kodiak brown bears in the wild at kodiak brown bear center

A Place of Ancient Roots: Alutiiq Heritage on Karluk Lake

The name “Camp Island” (also “Thumb Island”) originated from its use as a scientific base.

From 1889, biologists like William Morton and Allan DeLacy used this central Karluk Lake island for fisheries studies, valuing its location and protection from bears. The U.S. Bureau of Fisheries built the first cabin in 1927, supporting researchers who collected diverse biological specimens through the 1950s.

This established Camp Island as a key site for understanding Karluk Lake’s globally renowned sockeye salmon runs, marking a shift towards scientific resource management.

A Modern Sanctuary: The Kodiak Brown Bear Center

Today, Camp Island is home to the Kodiak Brown Bear Center & Lodge (KBBC), owned by Koniag, the Alaska Native Regional Corporation representing the Alutiiq people. This ownership reflects the Alutiiq value of Nunapet (“ties to our homeland“) and their deep connection to the land.

The KBBC offers world-class bear viewing, fishing, and hiking within the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which has one of the highest concentrations of Kodiak brown bears globally.

The center emphasizes minimal impact through small groups and sustainable power (wind, solar), aligning with the refuge’s 1941 mission to protect bears and their habitat. 

Beyond the Island: Karluk Lake's Broader Historical Tapestry

Camp Island’s history is part of Karluk Lake’s broader narrative.

Russian hunters established a trading post at Karluk in 1786. Post-1867, commercial salmon canning boomed, with Karluk hosting Kodiak’s first cannery in 1882, though overfishing led to closures by the late 1930s. Kodiak Island also served as Russian America’s first capital (1792-1804) and faced natural disasters like the 1912 Novarupta eruption and the 1964 earthquake.

Importantly, while Kodiak Island was a strategic WWII military site, records show no specific military presence on “Camp Island” in Karluk Lake itself.

Camp Island's Enduring Legacy

Camp Island, in Karluk Lake, Kodiak, embodies a remarkable journey.

From millennia as an Alutiiq resource hub, sustained by salmon, it transitioned into a vital scientific base. Today, under Alutiiq ownership at the Kodiak Brown Bear Center, it’s a conservation-focused sanctuary for bear viewing and sustainable tourism.

This trajectory highlights the enduring connection between people, place, and the Alaskan wilderness.

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Dan used these sources of information to make this article:

https://koc.alaska.edu/about/community/

https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kodiak/kodiakindex.htm

https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/KARLUK/KARLUKAPP1.pdf

https://alaskahistoricalsociety.org/tag/karluk/

https://www.travelalaska.com/destinations/parks-public-lands/kodiak-national-wildlife-refuge

https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/KARLUK/KARLUKAPP3.pdf

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CategoriesKarluk Lake, Kodiak Life by

The Wild Flora and Fauna of Kodiak Island

The Wild Flora and Fauna of Kodiak Island: Nature Untamed

Kodiak Island, often called Alaska’s Emerald Isle, is not only home to the legendary Kodiak brown bear but also to a lush and vibrant tapestry of plant and animal life.

Its remote location, rugged terrain, and unique climate—mild by Alaskan standards—combine to create a rich and diverse ecosystem that bursts with color and life from the forest floor to the mountaintops.

Flora: From Coastal Meadows to Alpine Blooms

Kodiak’s plant life thrives in the summer months, with long daylight hours and abundant rainfall helping to transform the landscape into a sea of green, gold, and violet. Coastal meadows and hillsides are dotted with wildflowers like:

  • Fireweed – A tall, magenta flower that blooms after disturbances like wildfires, often carpeting open spaces and road edges by late summer.

  • Lupine – These purple-blue spikes brighten up the island’s meadows, particularly in early summer.

  • Arctic daisies, shooting stars, and monkshood – Smaller, delicate blooms that thrive in alpine areas, often blooming near streams or rocky outcroppings.

  • Crowberries and blueberries – Low-growing shrubs that produce edible berries, vital not just to bears but to foxes, birds, and even humans.

Thick stands of Sitka spruce, alders, and willows dominate the island’s forests, providing shelter and food for countless animals. Lush mosses and ferns blanket the forest floor, soaking up the constant moisture that gives the island its rich, emerald appearance.

Dan M Lee

Fauna: Wild, Winged, and Wonderful

Kodiak’s animal life is just as diverse and captivating. Of course, the Kodiak brown bear is the undisputed star—these massive, intelligent omnivores are found throughout the island. But look a little closer and you’ll find a whole cast of characters in the wild.

Birds are everywhere. The island lies along a major migratory route, making it a hotspot for birdwatching. You’ll see:

  • Bald eagles, nesting high in the spruce trees or swooping down to catch salmon from rivers.

     

  • Puffins, murres, and cormorants nesting along the rocky coastlines and offshore cliffs.

     

  • Sandhill cranes, ravens, and countless species of waterfowl, especially around the island’s wetlands and lakes.

 

On land, red foxes roam the fields and beaches, sometimes bold and curious, other times shy and swift. The island’s Sitka black-tailed deer, introduced in the early 20th century, are now widespread and often seen grazing in open meadows or wandering into town. River otters, weasels, and the occasional beaver can be spotted near streams and lakes.

Offshore, the waters surrounding Kodiak are equally alive. Sea otters, harbor seals, and Steller sea lions haul out on rocky beaches or float in the kelp beds. In summer, gray whales, humpbacks, and orcas patrol the coastlines, offering unforgettable glimpses of marine majesty.

Dan M Lee

A Living Island

What makes Kodiak Island so remarkable is how its flora and fauna intertwine—the wildflowers feed the insects, which feed the birds, which become prey or companions in a much larger ecological story. The bears depend on berries and salmon, just as the foxes do on leftovers and scavenged carcasses. It’s a closed loop, rich with life and ruled by the seasons.

Whether you’re walking through a wildflower-draped meadow or watching a bald eagle launch from a spruce tree, Kodiak offers a front-row seat to one of the most intact and vibrant ecosystems in North America.

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