This mother black bear was concerned with our presence in the boat. The reason for her concern was because she is a mother and tomorrows post shows the problem….
Grizzly Bear and Wildlife Tour Blog
We offer an exceptional fly-in lodge for Grizzly Bear Watching and Whale Watching in British Columbia.
Learn about What’s happening at the Lodge, view our British Columbia’s Wildlife Report, read our Grizzly Bear Watching Blog and Whale Watching Blog. Learn more about a Day on the River Blog, see Our Tour Guide’s Photos & Blog and Photos from Our Guests.
Road Congestion
Using the grizzly bear viewing stands after August 24th requires a short drive from the river estuary to the stands. On the drive we pass by the man-made spawning channel that contains thousands of salmon and many grizzly bears feeding. On this day a bear was standing on the road looking down into the channel to see if it was safe to continue down the bank to fish. It is a minor problem when grizzly bear viewing is delayed by grizzly bears.
Grizzly Bear Triplets
Spring grizzly bears grazing on the sedge grass in the Glendale River estuary. This mother and cubs were frequent visitors to the estuary because of the protein rich grass and the good beach for rolling rocks for a different protein. Triplets are reasonably common and on occasion a mother with four cubs will pass through our viewing area. The reason the bear population is increasing is the number of births some of which are multiple births and with the abundance of food means most of the cubs survive. It is an interesting circle because when a pregnant bear hibernates if it is in good health (because of lots of food) the eggs are not absorbed and therefore more bears give birth and so on.
Humpback Whale Identification
Not a good photo to be used for whale identification as IDs are based on the underside of the tail, which is called flukes with each side or lobe called a fluke. However this is a good photo if you are in the boat and a whale is coming toward you and dives close to the boat and you know that is is passing under your boat.
Non Lunge Feeding Humpback Whales
Humpback whales normally explode from beneath a herring ball with their mouth open to engulf as much herring as possible. These two whales rose slowly with mouths open and were almost treading water as they slowly twisted in circles. Humpbacks have throat groves that run from chin to belly. These grooves allow the throat to expand, which allows large volumes of water and food into the mouth. Closing its mouth the whale will press down with its tongue forcing out water through baleen plates and capturing the herring.
Enhanced Scenery
Believe it or not this little cove in often the object of photography and it is just made better when a humpback whales makes it’s presence known. Pictures from Grizzly Bear Lodge’s day trips are not all about wildlife some are just the beauty of the day.
Trapper Rick’s Remains
Actually the remains of a black bear killed by a grizzly bear near Trapper Rick’s. The extra day booked at the lodge involves a trip to Rick’s and a day on the river looking for grizzlies, possibly river fishing and many stories from Rick including how he came by this black bear skeleton.
Sunrise at Grizzly Bear Lodge
Looking the other direction from yesterday’s post and a little earlier in the morning we have a rare sunrise. The morning cloud cover is more common than a sunny morning. By noon the overcast has normally departed for a clear day but to be honest an overcast day is much better for photos when you are on the water. A bright sun shinning down and reflecting back can make photographing challenging.
The “Eagle Eye”
On the other side of the platform mentioned in yesterday’s post we have caught the attention of a bald eagle for the same reason. Wildlife is very aware and we become more aware the longer we spend in our “nature” surroundings. Moving up river when viewing grizzly bears in the spring we use an aluminum skiff and need to be very careful as an “eagle eye” is OK but the absence of grizzlies because of carelessness is not.
A Grizzly Eye
This grizzly bear cub sitting in the middle of the river trying to stay dry looks rather forlorn. But it is not looking for its mother she is about two meters (yards) the other direction. We are in a grizzly bear viewing platform overlooking the entrance to a spawning channel and a guest bumped a bench which made a “non nature sound” and got us the “look”.
