Grizzly Bear and Wildlife Viewing Blog: Monthly Archives: October 2016

Estuary grizzly bear watching 1 of 2

Grizzly grazing on sedge grass

From late May until August 24th our grizzly bear watching is in Knight Inlet and the Glendale River estuary. We travel the hour and fifteen minutes up the inlet from Grizzly Bear Lodge where we transfer to a large flat bottom skiff to view the bears. The skiff has a very shallow draft that allows us to move up the river as the tide rises and come quite close to the grizzlies as they graze on the protein rich sedge grass. On the day of this photo the tide was reasonable high when we arrived so we were able to get a good view of the grizzlies grazing but as the tide started to drop and we came out of the river the viewing got better. See tomorrow’s post…

 

 

 

Visiting Trapper Rick’s 5 of 5

river fishing

Once the grizzly bear watching is complete and picnic lunch has been eaten most guests cannot resist fishing. Even guests that have no interest in fishing cannot resist a few casts with a spinning rod when they see all the salmon in the water. Some days it is like the “fish pond” at school fairs, if you can get your line in the water you will catch something.

 

 

 

Visiting Trapper Rick’s 3 of 5

Trapper's grizzly

With the small camera I use (Pentax Optio Wpi 6MP and 3X Optical Zoom) it is possible to get photos of grizzlies eating salmon across the river. It is an interesting sensation watching a grizzly when the river is not that deep and the bear could cross without much effort. And even though Rick known the grizzlies and has spent twenty years on the river he is still armed and prepared.

Visiting Trapper Rick’s 2 of 5

salmon jumping falls

… salmon jumping the falls. Moving out of the shade, if there are no grizzly bears fishing in the river, one can go to the water edge and with patience get a photo of salmon jumping the falls. There is a fish ladder, which bypasses the falls, but many salmon prefer the traditional route.

 

 

 

Visiting Trapper Rick’s 1 of 5

Trapper Rick's watching grizzly bears

A day tour to Trapper Rick’s occurs when you book the extra day at the lodge. We cross Knight Inlet pass through Thompson Sound to the Kakweikan River and Trapper Rick’s cabin. The river is located on the BC mainland and we travel by road, cross a river by boat and a short level hike to Rick’s cabin. Once at the cabin we walk 200 meters (yards) down river to sit and observe….

Grizzly Bear’s Waiting 3 of 3

juvenile grizzlies fighting

These two juvenile grizzlies were tired of waiting so they thought that maybe if they had a fight is might attract the salmon? It seems that our guests did not care why the activity was changing just that it was changing and that it made for much better photo opportunities.

Grizzly Bear’s Waiting 2 of 3

grizzly with tree backrest

A second year grizzly bear cub’s preferences is to wait closer to our viewing platform and use a tree for a backrest. It leaves the catching to mom however it should get into the action as it is likely that it will have to be doing the catching next year. This is the learning year so maybe less sitting. Tomorrow boredom….

Grizzly Bear’s Waiting 1 of 3

grizzly wait for salmon

An adult grizzly bear on the river near our viewing platform waits patiently for the salmon to move up river within catching distance of her position. Patience is rewarded and she has a family to feed. However this is not always the case, tomorrow….

Bald Eagle Catching Bottom Fish

 

Another great photo by Glen bald eagle fishingone of Grizzly Bear Lodge’s guides. And how do I know that the eagle is picking up a bottom fish because I can see it in the water just in front of the eagle’s talons. Bottom fish have an “orange” colour so this is one that was left behind by a sports fisher and floated to the surface.