Tag Archives: grizzly bear

Coastal Grizzly Bear Viewing

At the lodge our style of bear viewing changes with the season. In the spring and early summer we spend a lot of time in the river estuaries as the bears feed on sedge grasses. As the salmon arrive, we spend more time up the river systems viewing the bears as they try and fill up on the high protein salmon. One food source that is available to the bears throughout our season is the intertidal. When the tide is out there is a huge amount of protein available in the areas of the coastline between the high and low tide line. Some favourites include shore crab, mussels, barnacles as well as eels and other small fish. Both Black and Grizzly Bears utilise this important food source. Whenever we are travelling (particularly when the tide is out) it always is a good idea to keep a keen eye on the shoreline.

Grizzly Bear Viewing Platforms

This is the Grizzly Bear viewing platform that we use from August 25 until the end of the season.  The maximum number of guests we are allowed to have in the platform is 5 and during our time it will only be guests from our lodge.  People have plenty of space to get some great views and photos of the bears as they look for salmon.  The viewing in this area is well managed, limiting the number of people and the times that we can view.  This allows guests to have great experiences viewing the bears, but also creates low stress levels for the bears as they go about their business.

 

Grizzly Bear in the Estuary

This young Grizzly Bear is standing in the river estuary likely looking for salmon.  Tides play a huge roll in these shallow river estuaries.  At high tide the water will be right up to the sedge grass in the background covering the area where the bear is standing.  At this time the water is deeper and the salmon are able to pass through the lower river easily.  When the tide is low the fish are much more exposed and bears will take advantage of this as they struggle up the shallow riffles.

Grizzly Bear from the Dock

This picture was taken from the dock that we park at when conducting grizzly bear tours in Glendale Cove, Knight Inlet.  We explore the cove by small boat looking for bears, but sometimes we get lucky and they come to us.

Grizzly Bear “Andy”

This photo was taken from the deck at Rick’s cabin on the river.  This is a sub-adult male that Rick has named Andy.  He has watched him grow from a cub.  It is always nice to see him return to the river to feed year after year.

grizzly bear andy

Emily the Grizzly Bear

This photo was taken be Felix Rome who helped out Trapper Rick at the river last year.  This particular bear is known as Emily and has been around the area for many years having several sets of cubs.  It is always rewarding for us to be able to watch the same bears return year after year and to watch them grow up.

grizzly river

Grizzly Bear “Roy”

Roy is a male Grizzly Bear that we have commonly been seeing on our river trips.  It is very rewarding to recognize certain bears and watch their behaviour over a season, or several seasons for that matter.  Roy got his fair share of salmon and was looking fat and healthy by the end of the season.  All set for a good six months of hibernation.