Taking photos for the blog I try to give viewers an idea of what it is like on a tour from Grizzly Bear Lodge. In this case a phone used for photos which is becoming common. Also if you look into the water behind the bear it is not deep maybe this means we are close? Does the bear care?
Tag Archives: Black Bears
Black Bears Foraging
Your guide often says, “Black bears are where you find them.” This means although we do a black bear tour on your first evening in the lodge we are constantly looking for black bears. Running up Knight Inlet on a grizzly bear tour, across to Thompson Sound on the extra day in the lodge or out to Johnstone Strait is search of orca and whales we are always watching the shore for bears. This mother and cub were on a whale watching safari and were cooperative enough to stay on the beach for over half an hour. As you can see the cub was in step with mother and followed her example.
Always looking for Black Bears 1 of 2
On your first evening at Grizzly Bear Lodge we go on a tour in search of black bears. This evening run is not always successful but we are always looking for black bears on the beach while running up Knight Inlet to the grizzly viewing area or on the way to Johnstone Strait to whale watch. The saying goes that “black bears are where you find them” meaning there is no set location for viewing as there is with the grizzlies. And sometime they are not always black…
First Evening Black Bear Tour 2 of 20
Arrival at the lodge: First is the assignment of room. Second snacks on the front deck made up of cheese and crackers; fresh prawns or dungeness crab; and drinks: coffee, tea, water or pop. While this is being consumed Angus will give a talk about the lodge and explain your itinerary. Third you are fitted with floater suites / survival suites which are designed to keep you warm and dry but hopefully never needed to keep you afloat. The boys in the boat are wearing these suites on the first evening black bear tour. This orientation trip to look for black bears, seals, bald eagles etc. depends on the tide. To find bears on the beach we need a beach thus the low tide requirement and because of this the trip may be before or after dinner. The boats are limited to four guests so this is a more personal tour than other lodges provide. Also there are normally on eight guest in the lodge.
Concerned Black Bear 2 of 2
These two cubs were at the top of the beach on a steep rock bank. When were first arrived we though that we might have scared them off the beach but soon learned that they were trying to get to their mother on the beach. We waited and they did manage climb down and show no interest in our boat. The beach appeared to be a new experience for them and we were just part of that experience. If the mother shows no fear then the cubs have the same attitude.
Concerned Black Bear 1 of 2
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….
Black Bear Gathering Mussels
The black on the rocks beneath the bladderwrack seaweed is mussels. The black bears come to the shore at low tides and scrape the mussels from the rocks as a source of protein. You will notice the white patches of rock around the bear that have already been scraped clean. This bear is promoting the “grass is always greener” philosophy of getting mussels.
Black Bear Cub Following
Black bear cubs tend to stay close to their mother when they are walking the beach. If a noise startles them while we are watching from the boat they run to mother rather than up the beach for cover. They only go up the beach if the mother says and then it is into a tree. As the photo show they are almost synchronized with mother in their walking.
Black Bear Crossing
It is amazing that this black bear had just swam between two small islands but with one dog like shake it appears dry. Five of six times a summer on whales watching trips we encounter black bears swimming between the many islands as we travel from the lodge to the area of Johnstone Strait. If you go to “Categories” and select “Wildlife Tour Itinerary” along the area to the right you will get some idea of the number of island we travel through and the routes of Grizzly Bear Lodge’s various trips.
First tour at Grizzly Bear Lodge
Guest normally arrive at the Lodge from Campbell River between three and four o’clock. Once rooms have been sorted out, guests settled in, snacks on the front deck and Angus’s talk about the lodge and your visit’s itinerary it is time for the first tour. The first evening is a trip in the local waters looking for black bears, bald eagles, seals and even on occasion a grizzly bear. The trip is an hour plus depending on what is found and is used to familiarize you with the boats and guides.
