Grizzly
bear / wildlife viewing opportunities are offered during three different
seasons of the year - spring, late summer and fall. These seasons
provide a look into different aspects of grizzly bear seasonal life
cycles.
In May and early June Grizzly bears forage on estuarine sedges and
slide / talus areas. At the end of June the mating season provides
some unique bear behaviours. In the late summer the rivers are overflowing
with spawning salmon and the bears feast on this abundant food supply.
Our fall trips take place in brilliant mountain colors and feature
grizzly bears preparing for hibernation.
On a spring Grizzly tour you will pass through a rich diversity of
habitats ranging from vertical walled fiords to ancient coastal temperate
rainforests. Along the way killer whales, harbour seals and majestic
eagles are often seen. You can expect to see cubs and mothers playing,
mothers teaching their young and large males grazing with an unforgetable
appetite. Your day will be amazing as theses bears forage within meters
of you while you are in the safety of a Jet boat. We recommend your
stay or tour be at least three days to be able to fully understand
the life cycle of grizzly bears and plants. Both day trips and overnight
adventures are offered during the spring season.
During late summer ( August - Sept ) hundreds of thousands of pacific
salmon arrive on their spawning grounds to lay their eggs. Grizzly
bears take full advantage of this incredible food supply, feasting
endlessly on this rich source of protein. Other wildlife on these
tours, which are frequently seen, include timber wolves, black bears,
otters, eagles, porcupine and moose. These tours vary in length, from
day trips to fully equipped overnight and multi day excursions.
Fall Grizzly bear tours begin with an understanding of the hibernating
process, while the salmon have finished their cycle and the bears
begin the wintering food process, changing from the last bits of salmon
to roots and berrys. The fall offers amazing colours, with the brilliant
reds and oranges on the hillsides contrasting with the fresh snow
on the mountain peaks. This time is for those who are a little more
hearty and want to observe grizzlies in several different habits.
Basic day trips start early in the morning and depending on the season,
transportation is via float plane, jet boat or motor vehicle. All
amenities such as food, drink, safety equipment and sleeping bags
are provided with the exclusion of personal gear (rain gear, boots
warm clothing). We also recommend people bring binoculars and a camera
with plenty of film for photo opportunities.
To maximize the educational opportunities of your trip and minimize
the potential for damage to sensitive ecological areas bear viewing
trips are limited to a maximum of 4 persons.
The guides have over 30 years of grizzly bear experience which, in
addition to conducting tours, includes helping the government establish
bear viewing guidelines and mapping North Coast grizzly bear populations.
This is the only grizzly bear tour operator in the areas you will
be visiting. These areas have the highest concentration of grizzly
bears per square kilometer in the province.
Accommodations
range from rustic cabins to the luxurious Minette Bay Lodge.
2006/2007 Prices:
$380 per person/day based on double occupancy
$325 per person/day based on quad occupancy
All prices in Canadian dollars
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