Tag Archives: grizzly

Salmon?

watching grizzlies watch salmon

There were some salmon working their way up river over the small falls and they were spotted by this grizzly. However by the time it got closer the salmon had mover up river but that did not stop this bear from watching this same area for over ten minutes before it moved on.

The salmon that got away

Salmon Got Away

This grizzly was fishing in the pool next to the viewing stands, which we use in the fall. This salmon will not be going far, as the small pink part on the grizzly’s leg is part of its stomach. Often bears will eat the protein rich salmon eggs before the remainder of the salmon and in this case the white shapes in the water are salmon carcasses. This grizzly was not so much fishing as scooping up dead salmon from the bottom a method that conserves energy and puts calories to better use as fat.

 

 

Nap time for?

Sleeping grizzly cubs

A quick glance at the above photo and it is hard to be sure if what you are seeing is possible. But once you look at the photo below and see one of the cubs walking away you realize that it is possible. Early July and a very warm sunny morning taking a nap on a rock warmed by the sun is hard to beat. They were on the rock on the shore of Knight Inlet’s Glendale River when we arrived at 9:30 and remained for another thirty minutes before they woke up and started to move about. Have no fear mother was grazing on sedge grass not far away and likely enjoy some down time from raising cubs.

Grizzly cub moves

 

 

 

 

Wildlife at Trapper’s 2 of 3

Boat crossing

As this photo shows the rope is part of a pulley system used to cross the river to get to Trapper’s cabin. It is not a good idea to cross a river to confront a grizzly so we waited for about fifteen minutes while the bear worked its way along the shore. About 60 meters (200 feet) past the rope it swam across the river to our side so we got in the boat and crossed the river and took the fifteen minute walk to the cabin.

Anette and family visit 6 of 7

grizzly bears fishinggrizzly bears fishing

The first photo show two grizzlies approaching the stand from down river while the second has them looking for salmon from the river bank opposite or viewing site. Excellent pictures of grizzly bears that have learned to ignore us and get on with fattening for winter hibernation.

Anette and family visit 5 of 7

grizzly bear cub knight inletgrizzly watching guest

Anette’s comments continue: “The next day we went bear watching with Glenn and we saw about 15 grizzlies amongst those a cub that had got away from it’s mother (standing on its hind legs scouting). We’re sure it was reunited with the mother just 2 minutes after we lost sight….” September grizzly bear watching is on one of two platforms we use on Knight Inlets Glendale River. Our preferred stand has the natural river on one side where the cub is standing and the entrance to the spawning channel n the other. The second photo is of a grizzly that is directly below the platform maybe five meters away.

I hear you

Grizzly bears fighting

It is not difficult to tell which grizzly bear is dominant in this situation. Alone and vulnerable, siblings will often stay together for some time after their mother abandons them, eating and sleeping side-by-side, and even denning together. The average breeding age for female grizzlies is 4.5 years. Males reach sexual maturity at roughly the same age as their female counterparts. So if they stay with their mother for two years this means they may spent two or three years together until a female becomes pregnant or if two males longer.

 

 

Knight Inlet Grizzly Bears

Your grizzly bear tour provides for many opportunities for great photos. In the fall the salmon are in BC’s coastal rivers and this is a smorgasbord for the bears. Some grizzly bears spend time looking for fish to eat while others just eat. Some ot these brown bears fish the deep water to pick up dead fish while others prefer fish live. Both of these are deep water bears. After a day viewing bears return to the lodge and maybe a “hot tub”. Photos byBruce & Carole Cripps 4-11

completed.

Grizzly Bear in the River

Grizzly Bears are very comfortable in the water.  When the salmon are running they spend a great deal of time in the river often swimming across it multiple times.  They are also excellent long distance swimmers easily swimming across Knight Inlet, which is approximately 1 mile wide.  Thanks to Britt for the picture

For The Brids Pt3

These are a few birds that we see often in the estuary and main river while we are looking for Grizzly Bears.  The American Dipper, Cedar Waxwing and Belted Kingfisher.  The Kingfisher is particularly common and can be heard and seen in many areas including right by the lodge.