Grizzly Bear and Wildlife Viewing Blog: Yearly Archives: 2017

I hear you

Grizzly bears fighting

It is not difficult to tell which grizzly bear is dominant in this situation. Alone and vulnerable, siblings will often stay together for some time after their mother abandons them, eating and sleeping side-by-side, and even denning together. The average breeding age for female grizzlies is 4.5 years. Males reach sexual maturity at roughly the same age as their female counterparts. So if they stay with their mother for two years this means they may spent two or three years together until a female becomes pregnant or if two males longer.

 

 

Knight Inlet Grizzly Bears

Your grizzly bear tour provides for many opportunities for great photos. In the fall the salmon are in BC’s coastal rivers and this is a smorgasbord for the bears. Some grizzly bears spend time looking for fish to eat while others just eat. Some ot these brown bears fish the deep water to pick up dead fish while others prefer fish live. Both of these are deep water bears. After a day viewing bears return to the lodge and maybe a “hot tub”. Photos byBruce & Carole Cripps 4-11

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Mother and Cub Grizzly Looking On

We often see mother and cubs while viewing the Grizzly Bears.  Grizzly Bears are slow reproducers, but the mothers take excellent care of their young.  These bears are near the river and the mother is doing a good survey for potential dangers before venturing out with her cub.

The Little Things

We are very lucky to be located in the Great Bear Rainforest, where the wildlife is plentiful and the scenery is spectacular.  Often we take for granted the little things, which are also beautiful, such as this small falls entering Knight Inlet.  The larger waterfall in the back is Rainbow Falls, which is just past Glendale Cove where we do most of our Grizzly Bear watching.

Humpback “Lazy Lunge Feed”

When the humpbacks feed they often lunge out of the water very quickly consuming as many herring as possible.  Another lazier technique is to use the current to their advantage.  The whales poke their mouth out of the water slowly, open and close it and let the current deliver krill and small baitfish to them.  Although not as dramatic it is equally impressive and much easier to see and photograph.

Meals 3 of 3

Grizzly Bear Lodge DinnerGrizzly bear lodge is noted for it’s good food (check out TripAdvisor). Meals are eaten with the guides and the rule is “What happens in the boat stays in the boat unless it is mentioned by the guests then all is fair.”. Dinner can last for hours as the table becomes a discussion of the days activities as well as a means to solving all the world problems.

First Evening Tour 2 of 3

black bear tour…your black bear / wildlife tour which takes place on your first evening in Grizzly Bear Lodge. It is a get to know your boat / guide / area tour that, last about an hour and half in the local area looking for black bears. Depending on the time in the season and the height of the tide the tour may be before or after dinner…

New Guest Arrive 1 of 3

seaplane arrivesNew guests arrive from Campbell River between 3:30 and 4:00 after a forty-five minute flight. Once the plane is unloaded the guest move to the lodge were they are assigned rooms. Then it is to the front deck for a snack of fresh dungeness crab or prawns, cheeses, crackers, dips, coffee, tea, soft drinks or beer. After Angus answers questions and gives his “talk” about the operation of the lodge, outlines the days itineraries, floater suits are tried on you are ready for…..

Grizzly Bear in the River

Grizzly Bears are very comfortable in the water.  When the salmon are running they spend a great deal of time in the river often swimming across it multiple times.  They are also excellent long distance swimmers easily swimming across Knight Inlet, which is approximately 1 mile wide.  Thanks to Britt for the picture