The problem the grizzly is yesterday’s post has is the four bears in today’s. No bear except a large male wants to confront a mother grizzly bear with two cubs. And this was a five-year-old male who wanted time to think about its decision. Also in the photo is another large female but without cubs (head lower right corner). After about five minutes of pondering he entered the river and did some fishing but kept his distance from the other bears.
Grizzly Watching
Grizzly Bears are magnificent and the biggest reason visitors choose our lodge!
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.
Grizzly bear watching? 1 of 2
This grizzly came to a point about 8 meters (26 feet) from the base of the viewing platform that overlooks the spawning channel on Knight Inlet’s Glendale River. The platform, which we use after August 24th, provides a view of the man-made spawning channel containing salmon. This is a favourite fishing location for the grizzlies on the lodge’s grizzly bear watching tours. That creates the problem for this bear as will be seen in tomorrow’s post….
Black Bear in the Morning
Your first evening at Grizzly Bear Lodge includes a tour in looking for black bears. The “looking” for black bears is part of every trip we take in a boat. This photo was at 7:27 on August 11 on the back side of Minstrel Island the home of Grizzly Bear Lodge. Yes, we do have black bears on our island and our daily tours do leave at 7:30 or earlier if guests are ready.
Salmon?
There were some salmon working their way up river over the small falls and they were spotted by this grizzly. However by the time it got closer the salmon had mover up river but that did not stop this bear from watching this same area for over ten minutes before it moved on.
The salmon that got away
This grizzly was fishing in the pool next to the viewing stands, which we use in the fall. This salmon will not be going far, as the small pink part on the grizzly’s leg is part of its stomach. Often bears will eat the protein rich salmon eggs before the remainder of the salmon and in this case the white shapes in the water are salmon carcasses. This grizzly was not so much fishing as scooping up dead salmon from the bottom a method that conserves energy and puts calories to better use as fat.
Nap time for?
A quick glance at the above photo and it is hard to be sure if what you are seeing is possible. But once you look at the photo below and see one of the cubs walking away you realize that it is possible. Early July and a very warm sunny morning taking a nap on a rock warmed by the sun is hard to beat. They were on the rock on the shore of Knight Inlet’s Glendale River when we arrived at 9:30 and remained for another thirty minutes before they woke up and started to move about. Have no fear mother was grazing on sedge grass not far away and likely enjoy some down time from raising cubs.
A Turkey Vulture – North BC Coast?
Yes this is a turkey vulture and it is a little out of place. They breed regularly on eastern and western Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the southwestern mainland coast. In September and early October, large numbers congregate on southern Vancouver Island; kettles of several hundred vultures can be seen at Sooke, Beechey Head and Rocky Point. It is possible that the entire coastal population stages there before flying southward across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This photo was taken on
August 25, 2015 so this bird should be heading to southern Vancouver Island about 400 kilometers (250 miles) distance. Instead it is sunning itself near the grizzly bear viewing platform we use on Knight Inlet’s Glendale River.
Black Bear Pt2
All bears in North America are excellent swimmers. Some people even consider Polar Bears a marine animal, due to the large distances that they swim. The mouth of Knight Inlet is dotted with many small islands and channels. When food becomes scarce, or competition with other bears arises these bears will simply swim to another island or the mainland. Thanks to Brien for the photo.
Black Bear Pt1
Black Bears are a common sight in our area. Unlike the Grizzly Bears they do not congregate in great numbers around the salmon rivers. They would if they could, but the Grizzlies are the more dominant bear and push the Black Bears out. Black Bears are smaller and have short, very sharp claws that allow them to climb trees with ease. Grizzly’s long, curved digging claws prevent them from climbing, except as young cubs.
Anette and family visit 7 of 7
Anette’s final comment: “On the way back we met a humpback pair that swam around the boat at a distance of about 10 meters and diving just when they got along side of us.
The best wishes for the coming season. We’re quite a bit envious of this seasons clients!” It is not only the guest that miss Grizzly Bear Lodge at this time of the year the guides start thinking about the coming season and checking their gear to get ready for another summer of hard “work”. Again Anette “Thank You” for the great photos and comments it is always better if viewers get their information first hand from happy guest.
