All wildlife we view on our tours has its comfort zone and when something encroaches they become concerned. This grizzly bear was on the beach eating sedge grass when something behind it got its attention….
Tag Archives: Grizzly Bears
Diva Crown for a Knight Inlet Grizzly
Glen (guide) thought it looked like a “shower cap” I choose a “diva crown”. Glen took the photo and I’m doing the blog so not sure who gets to name the photo? Either way it was a first for both of us and we have each been at the lodge for about fifteen years. BC’s Glendale River that flows into Knight Inlet becomes quite turbulent after a heavy rain and produces natural foam that adorns this grizzly bear’s head.
A Grizzly Bear Bridge to Food
Heading off the beach to the top of the tidal zone in search of berries. Climbing over barnacle and seaweed covered rocks is avoided by using a strategy placed log.
Grizzly Bear dinning
The viewing stands we use on Knight Inlet’s Glendale River provide excellent opportunities for photos. The March 25th and 26th postings are from this location as is today’s photo. This grizzly bear is less than 15 meters (yards) from the camera lens as it makes a meal of the salmon it just caught below our viewing platform. This grizzly is sitting on the bottom and enjoying its meal.
Black Bear cubs wait 2 of 2
These first year black bear cubs are not able to scrape the barnacles and muscles off the rocks like their mother so they are waiting for a chance to move off the beach to nurse. But then again this photo was from June 18th which makes them two and a half months younger than the grizzly cubs of yesterdays post and at this age that is a long time.
Grizzly Bear cubs wait 1 of 2
These two first-year grizzly bear cubs spotted on a morning tour try to stay as dry as possible as they wait for mother to catch them another salmon. It is September 6th and the mother is still quite thin as she has to feed her cubs plus put on enough bulk to survive hibernation. Fortunately she has two months to achieve that goal.
Grizzly bear and cubs “working” the beach.
Even if I did not have the date on the photos to check by the size of these grizzly bear cubs one can tell it is mid July in Knight Inlet. Peder and Ann have captures the activity that we find on the beach at this time of year. The salmon have not arrived in the rivers so the grizzlies obtain much of their protein rolling rocks on the beach for the crabs, clams, amphipods and other tiny invertebrates. The cubs may roll a few of the smaller rocks but mostly rely on mum. We have attracted the one cubs attention for a few minutes but it’s mother is only interested in food. Not to worry there were good photos face on but it is common to have the grizzly in this position as it is easier to roll rocks down hill.
Spring Grizzly Bears Grazing
“It was wonderful to see our very first bear in the wild even if they were very skinny, I’m guessing they’re much fatter now!” A comment from David and Drina on their photos taken June 16, 2015. And David is correct on both accounts the spring grizzly bears of Knight Inlet are skinny as their main food is the sedge grass that this bear is eating. It is a little early for the many berries that ripen later in June and July. Once they are ripe the grizzlies have access to black, huckle, thimble, salmon and salal berries to name a few. And of course the salmon are not in the rivers in any great number until late August. David is also right that this bear was in great shape to hibernate after the two months of September and October fattening on the salmon.
Grizzly bridge over river to salmon?
Yes this is the same mother grizzly bear from yesterday’s post. Most first year cubs prefer to stay dry so would rather walk a log than swim the river. But they are sitting down looking into the river and this is their favourite perch when their mother is fishing. As soon as she catches a salmon they leave the perch and go to mother for their share but some times (see yesterdays post) they are too late.
Backward grizzly bear eating salmon
Most grizzly bears that catch a salmon will take it to shore or at least use a rock as a table to make it easier to eat. This grizzly sitting on the rock and eating the salmon almost in the water seemed to be hiding its catch. It was hiding its catch from one of its cubs. Above the bear to the right you can just see one of her cubs and the fact that she has two means she needs a meal on her own and does not share all her catches.
