A small black fuzzy caterpillar seen in the NPS administrative building in King Salmon, Alaska
Observation: It is February! And this little guy appeared next to the NPS administrative building in King Salmon, Alaska. It looks like a woolly bear caterpillar but is all black, about 3/4" long and has long hairs in the back.
University of Fairbanks Consult: Jessie Moan from UAF Cooperative Extension Service writes: "I think this is a woolly bear, but if there is an additional photo or two that might help be more certain. It is unusual to see any kind of caterpillar this time of year but it is not unheard of to find an "early riser" if the conditions are right."
LEO Comment: We have received six previous observations about caterpillars in Southcentral or Southwestern Alaska, and a few from other parts of the State. All of these occurred between the months of July and September, and usually the posts were not about the phenology (seasonal timing) but rather about infestations or unusual species. A February caterpillar sets a new precedent by LEO standards.
According to Weather Underground, the temperatures in King Salmon during the week ranged from the high 30s Fahrenheit to the low 40s. If it is a wooly bear (Pyrrharctia isabella), they freeze solid during the winter. So we think this little caterpillar is another indication of spring-like conditions. See Wikipedia The following film discusses the interesting life cycle of woolly bears. M. Tcheripanoff
Observations From Members 