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.

Almost three heads whale watching

Humpback lunge feeding

Whale watching over the past five years has become more interesting as the number of humpback whales in our viewing area has increased from four or five to twelve on a normal day. On this day the first head of blonde hair is to give you perspective for the closeness of the humpback whales lunge feeding through a balls of herring. One whale has not completed its lunge out of the water and the other to the left side of the picture is just starting to poke its head out of the water. If I had waited about ten seconds it would have been a great photo but that is the reason we normally spend several hours with the humpbacks so you can get the “good” photo. My excuse is it is hard to run the boat and take good pictures.

 

 

Estuary Grizzly Bears – extra legs

River Grizzly Bears

 

Prior to August 25th the grizzly bear tours from the lodge spend the day in the Glendale River and it’s estuary. We use a 5.5 five meter (yard) flat bottom skiff to move along the shore and quietly up the river while we watch grizzlies. As the tide rises we move up river and encounter bears digging roots, eating sedge grass and chasing salmon once they arrive. This summer (2014) Bella and her cubs were frequently in this area to entertain guests and provide photo opportunities. Their attention is not on us but rather two sub-adult bears that have come to the beach, in fact we have become part of the scenery and are normally ignored by the grizzlies.

Grizzly being protective

Mom protecting triplets

 

For most of the summer (2014) this one cub of the triplets was a little “off”. Normally the cubs stay close to their mother for protection and comfort but the one cub was constantly lagging behind while walking the river, wander off while mom was fishing or just being that “kid in the mall” wanting to do its own thing.

 

Killer Whale Breathing

Killer Whale Surfacing

 

 

An interesting sequence of photos taken on a whale watching day in the Johnstone Strait. This area is a fifty-minute boat ride from Grizzly Bear Lodge, a time spent looking for black bear, bald eagles, dolphins and enjoying the morning scenery. The photo above shows an orca just breaking water and starting to exhale as shown by the bubbling water marking the start of the blow. The photo below the final exhale and then breathing in before it disappears.

Killer whale breathing

 

 

 

Wild River Day

Trapper Rick's river

 

If you book the extra day in camp we cross Knight Inlet and travel through Thompson Sound to the Kakweikan River and spend a day with Trapper Rick.  This river is located on the BC mainland and we travel by old logging roads to Rick’s cabin. Once we cross the river and start the short hike to Rick’s cabin the first stop is often an abandoned bridge, which provides an excellent view of the river and the spawning salmon in the river. The photo above is looking down river and the small flat area at the end of the portion of the river you can see is the  “front yard” of Rick’s cabin. The photo below shows a guest looking into the fish ladder that bypasses the falls in front of the cabin. This is also the area frequently used by grizzly bears to fish for salmon. If bears are not present then guests may fish for salmon below the falls but while you fish one of the guides is always watching for bears as we do move when they arrive.

Ricks Fish Ladder

 

 

 

 

Grizzly Bear Salad Break

Grizzly Bear Grazing

 

This photo was taken on the first day (August 25) in the viewing stands this summer (2014). This grizzly had been doing well catching salmon and feeding her cubs, that is “cubs” as she has triplets (see tomorrows post). But as many bears in the area she is taking a break and eating some grass along the riverbank. Not sure why a grizzly would give up the abundance of salmon for grass but would assume that a change is as good as a rest and the possibility that it might aid in digestion. This shows the fact that grizzlies will eat almost anything. They are omnivorous and will eat plants and other animals if available. What they eat depends on what kind of foods is available where they live and the particular season.

 

 

Male Resident Killer Whale

Male killer whale

Male because of the large dorsal fin as the species shows considerable size difference between males and females. Adult males develop larger pectoral flippers, dorsal fins, tail flukes, and girths than females. Resident because the dorsal fin is rounded at the tip and curved and tapering while the transient is shorter and sharper. The other key reason that this is a resident is that it is coming close to the boat while transients are less curious and will not approach a boat.

 

 

Sunrise Just Missed

Lodge sunrise

The morning view across the bay in front of the Lodge. Guest are called between 6:30 and 7:00 for an 8:00 or 8:30 departure depending on the time of the season. A good breakfast is on the table and most important fresh coffee or tea. This photo shows the tail end of a beautiful sunrise over calm waters.