Visitors
to British Columbia appreciate the diversity of wildlife found in the
forests, coastal regions, and wilderness waterways of Canada's western
most provinces. There are several types of Bears that you can see when
visiting British Columbia.
Black Bears
inhabit heavily forested areas, dense bush and wooded mountains throughout
most of British Columbia. They tend to wander a great distance, some male
adults having lifetime ranges of 500 to 620 square miles. On Gribble Island
and the neighboring mainland of British Columbia individuals are nearly
white.
The Kermode
Bear, or "Spirit Bear", lives in the central coast of British
Columbia, and is a unique subspecies of the North American black bear.
Approximately one in every 10 bears is white or cream-coloured. Because
of their ghost-like appearance, "spirit bears" hold an important
place with Canada's First Nations people in the area.
Grizzly Bears
inhabit most of the province except Vancouver Island and the lower mainland.
Nearly half of Canada's grizzly population - about 13 000 - live here.
They prefer semi-open country usually in mountainous areas such as the
Cariboo and Chilcotin, the West Coast including the Haida Gwaii (Queen
Charlottes) Northern BC, and the Great Bear Rainforest.
The Great
Bear Forest is a region with grizzly bears, black bears, and the mysterious
Kermode bear, a white variety of the black bear that is rarely seen, but
often sought. This coastal area is located between Butte Inlet on the
South Coast of BC and then North to the Alaskan border. The Great
Bear Rainforest is more diverse than most forests and ecosystems in the
world.
On your
Bear Watching experience in the BC's wilderness, please remember, these
are wild animals and you should observe all appropriate safety precautions.
It's always a good idea to hire the services of a professional guide or
participate in an organized, professionally licensed wilderness tour or
wildlife expedition when considering your Bear Watching experience in
British Columbia.
Bear
Watching in British Columbia, Canada
Grizzly Bears & Black Bears
BC Rockies
St. Mary River Adventure Lodge: St. Mary River Adventure Lodge is located in the Purcell Mountains of southeast British Columbia. Our adventure company is dedicated to providing first class service & accommodations to clients seeking summer or winter backcountry wilderness adventures. more
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Bella Coola Grizzly Tours: We’re home to some of the worlds largest Grizzlies & Mountain Goats. Summer and Fall spawning Salmon, a natural food source for Grizzlies & other wildlife, return to the Bella Coola River. We offer Grizzly & Wildlife viewing, Eco Tours, Hiking Fishing, and m... more
Bella Coola's Coast Mountain Lodge: Visit Bella Coola’s Coast Mountain Lodge for a wilderness adventure, relax in our gardens & luxurious accommodations, or enjoy the mountain views. We offer fully guided adventure / wildlife tours where you can journey down coastal rivers, or enjoy self-guided... more
Cariboo Chilcotin Jetboat Adventures: We offer exhilarating jetboat tours on the Fraser, Chilcotin & Chilko Rivers – & outdoor wilderness adventure with wilderness / wildlife, native culture, gold rush history, & hiking. Our professionally trained Chilcotin native guides offer exceptional customer... more
Cariboo Rivers Fishing: We specialize in fly-fishing, wilderness and cultural tours, and jet boat adventures from the Chilcotin plateau, to the interior rain forests of the Quesnel Lake watershed. We offer you luxury in a wilderness setting at our private lodge on the Fraser River ... more
Chilcotin Holidays Ltd: Stay at our guest ranch and explore some backcountry while you see BC’s true wilderness. Enjoy trail riding and sleigh rides, guided multi-day hiking trip or wilderness trekking, wildlife viewing and big game safaris, x-country skiing, snowmobiling , fishing ... more
Ecosummer Expeditions: BC’s first kayaking company offers award-winning trips to the Queen Charlotte & Gulf Islands, Johnstone Strait, & West Coast Trail. We guarantee world-class scenery, some of the world’s finest Orca whale and bear watching, & an absolute commitment to service. more
Ecotours-BC.com: Adventure in the wilds of BC … untamed, wild and remote. Ecotours-BC will take you to rare ancient forests, glaciers, and the alpine. You’ll see wildlife, mountain grizzly bears, eagles, and salmon – all surrounding Quesnel Lake - the deepest fjord lake on e... more
Fawnie Mountain Outfitters: We are licensed big game hunting guides & outfitters, offering black bear, grizzly and moose hunts in British Columbia’s Chilcotin wilderness. Our main lodge at Moose Lake is in the heart of moose country, an area known for large trophy black and grizzly bear... more
Ocean Adventures: Ocean Adventures invites you to experience remote and spectacular BC locations while enjoying the luxury accommodations and gourmet cuisine aboard the 54-foot motor yacht the Great Bear ll. You will enjoy unparalleled wildlife viewing and whale watching. more
Pathways Canada Tour Company: A unique experience - a lifetime of memories! Canoe world-renowned Bowron Lakes Park with experienced guides. Outside Magazine said, "A unique combination of sublime scenery, fantastic food, congenial company & great guides - one of the world’s top 10 canoe tr... more
The Lodge at Chilko Lake: Visit this Chilko Lake jewel set amongst the breath-taking Coast Mountain Range and Tsylos Provincial Park. We offer many outdoor / indoor / multi-sport adventures, and a luxurious stay in this truly healing blend of wilderness and comfort. more
Northern BC
Bluewater Adventures: Come see why National Geographic thinks we are “One of the Wolds Best!” Quality wilderness and wildlife eco-adventures about 70’ sailing and power vessels – our tours raise the profile of wildlife cruising in BC and Alaska. For small ship adventures off the ... more
Ecosummer Expeditions: BC’s first kayaking company offers award-winning trips to the Queen Charlotte & Gulf Islands, Johnstone Strait, & West Coast Trail. We guarantee world-class scenery, some of the world’s finest Orca whale and bear watching, & an absolute commitment to service. more
Ocean Adventures: Ocean Adventures invites you to experience remote and spectacular BC locations while enjoying the luxury accommodations and gourmet cuisine aboard the 54-foot motor yacht the Great Bear ll. You will enjoy unparalleled wildlife viewing and whale watching. more
Seashore Charters: Enjoy natural discovery excursions and discover the ancestral lands, waters, and culture of the first nations people. Enjoy Marine & Whale Discovery Cruises, explore the Great Bear Rainforest, cultural Pike Island, and the rest of this beautiful coastal regio... more
Z-Boat Lodge River Guides: Located in the epicenter of the best wild salmon & steelhead fishing on earth, enjoy a spectacular view of the Skeena River & Sleeping Beauty Mountain. We’ll provide you with destination-fishing packages in northwestern BC, and friendly personalized service. more
Vancouver Island
Bluewater Adventures: Come see why National Geographic thinks we are “One of the Wolds Best!” Quality wilderness and wildlife eco-adventures about 70’ sailing and power vessels – our tours raise the profile of wildlife cruising in BC and Alaska. For small ship adventures off the ... more
Coast Mountain Expeditions: Adventure, mountain vistas, rainforest islands & a gentle ocean await in BC's spectacular coastal wilderness … a sea kayakers' paradise. Enjoy island ambience at our waterfront lodge. Learn paddling skills, explore nature's awesome beauty, & a superb sea kayak... more
Dent Island Lodge: Our saltwater & freshwater fishing vacation resort, wilderness retreat, & yachting destination is located on BC’s west coast, north of Campbell River; the heart of the most magnificent salmon fishing area in the world. There’s guided salmon fishing, Jetboat t... more
Ecosummer Expeditions: BC’s first kayaking company offers award-winning trips to the Queen Charlotte & Gulf Islands, Johnstone Strait, & West Coast Trail. We guarantee world-class scenery, some of the world’s finest Orca whale and bear watching, & an absolute commitment to service. more
Great Pacific Adventures: Welcome to Great Pacific Adventures, offering whale-watching tours from the spectacular Inner Harbour of Victoria, BC. Locally owned and operated our family of certified outdoor specialist will provide you with an insightful and exciting adventure of a lifeti... more
Island Adventure Centre: Join us for orca whale watching, grizzly adventures, salmon saltwater fishing, wildlife & tidal rapids tours, kayak trips, rentals, and lake rentals … The Island Adventure Centre has it all we’re easy to get to but hard to leave. There’s always more to do & s... more
Orca Spirit Adventures: We experience the longest season & most active whales & marine mammals in BC! Focused on conservation, environmental safety, education, family fun, and exhilaration, we own the operation which locates the whales; giving us the highest success rate. more
Spirit of the West Adventures: We offer sea kayaking tours to the Johnstone Strait & the largest pods of killer whales on the BC coast – Desolation Sound, Quadra Island, & Campbell River - & guided excursions to explore ancient native villages. Set a course for a one of a kind wilderness a... more
Starfish Charters: The Salmon and Halibut fishing in Port Hardy, near the coast island wilderness, rivals all the best west coast locations. Join us at Starfish Charters & see what kind of fun we can have & the wildlife we’ll see including bears on the beaches, Orca, sea lions,... more
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
Bluewater Adventures: Come see why National Geographic thinks we are “One of the Wolds Best!” Quality wilderness and wildlife eco-adventures about 70’ sailing and power vessels – our tours raise the profile of wildlife cruising in BC and Alaska. For small ship adventures off the ... more
Coast Mountain Expeditions: Adventure, mountain vistas, rainforest islands & a gentle ocean await in BC's spectacular coastal wilderness … a sea kayakers' paradise. Enjoy island ambience at our waterfront lodge. Learn paddling skills, explore nature's awesome beauty, & a superb sea kayak... more
Dent Island Lodge: Our saltwater & freshwater fishing vacation resort, wilderness retreat, & yachting destination is located on BC’s west coast, north of Campbell River; the heart of the most magnificent salmon fishing area in the world. There’s guided salmon fishing, Jetboat t... more
Greater Vancouver Zoo: Discover the sights & sounds of over 600 different animals on 120 acres in the Fraser Valley. Enjoy the narrated Safari Express Miniature Train, Bird of Prey presentation & Safari Bus Tour. Bring your bike, blades, or tour the Zoo on a Quadra-cycle. Sleepover ... more
Ocean Adventures: Ocean Adventures invites you to experience remote and spectacular BC locations while enjoying the luxury accommodations and gourmet cuisine aboard the 54-foot motor yacht the Great Bear ll. You will enjoy unparalleled wildlife viewing and whale watching. more
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