Grizzly bears thrive here and the viewing opportunities are spectacular. We have operated our Grizzly Bear Lodge for decades and know the prime spots for bear watching. The ultimate grizzly bear photo opportunities.
On the lodge wildlife tours during the hot days of July and August we frequently see grizzly bears in the water. The water in the Glendale estuary are a mixture of salt and fresh water which the grizzly bears often drink. That is to say the bears do not end up with a heavy coating of salt when they leave the water. And it is better to have them in the water cooling off than moving into the shade away from our viewing.
This grizzly bear is about thirty feet (ten meters) away. It is not looking at us but is more interested in the activity in the river just beyond the seagulls and whether it is safe to go for lunch. I know it is lunch as our tour viewing time is between ten and noon. OK it could be a late breakfast. The road behind the bear runs between the viewing stands on this section of Knight Inlet’s Glendale River. The viewing stands are used after August 25 until the end of the season.
The tours from the lodge travel up Knight Inlet by boat and then take a short van ride to the viewing stands on the Glendale River’s spawning channel. The entrance to the viewing stands is made from steel posts and heavy gage wire. The stands are about ten feet (three meters) off the ground. Occasionally the juvenile bears are curious and would like to visit which is not a great idea but good for pictures.
This is why the grizzly bears come to Knight Inlet’s Glendale River in the fall. The metal posts are from the weir, which controls the water level in the man made spawning channel. If you look closely you can see the legs and nose of a grizzly trying to make a selection.
Bald Eagles are frequently sighted in our area. At times they can be seen in large numbers. This is usually where food supplies are high. For example this could be in areas with high concentrations of baitfish or along the rivers in the fall when the salmon are spawning. They are not migratory, but do move around with the food supply. As mentioned earlier when the salmon are spawning we often see many along the rivers, while there will be fewer along the coastline. With little need for camouflage their white head and tail feathers can be spotted easily. The female is slightly larger and her white head extends down a bit farther onto the body, but it is subtle. It takes these birds 4.5 – 5 years to acquire this unique plumage. As juveniles they are a brown colour. With exceptional eyesight and the ability to view 270 degrees they are understandably often seen in high perches and in trees near points and passageways.
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