Time to hibernate

Oct 30
Saw a medium-sized grizzly at the logjam north of HEC. She moved off slowly after a walk down the river.

Oct 31
Grizzly mum with cub near HOC in the morning. Pine Marten on the road near HEC. Then in the afternoon two otters from HOC as well as bats and American dippers.

The end of a great October and time for hibernation!

A plethora of grizzly bears

24 Oct
Great viewing of Stripy Bear. She just appeared south of HEC, swam across the river and then walked up towards us and under the bridge we were standing on as we stood and watched. Then she turned around and headed back again, once again passing only a few yards away.

25 Oct
More great viewing of Stripy Bear at HEC. She slowly and patiently fished both sides of the river. Unlike the younger bears she seems to know her own pace and carries her growing belly with a certain imperiousness. Every action she takes seems to count, every lunge brings up a fish.

26 Oct
Another amazing morning. Prolonged viewing of Stripy Bear at HEC but this time Twofish was there too, barely 100 yards away. He went into the bush and then reemerged. We watched him for more than half an hour making his way slowly north. And then as we crawled north we saw Apple cross the road in front of us about before heading off for more fishing. At the closest point she was about 10 feet from the car.

The grizzly came within a few yards of us

20 Oct
Some great viewing of Apple. We first saw her near GEB and then she moved south along the river. Later she moved onto the road and continued south.

21 Oct
A great day. In the morning we saw Stripy Bear from HEC and then watched Apple near GEB. Then during our rafting trip we came across Twofish, who reluctantly ceded the river to us. Then in the afternoon Apple began a long march down the road. At one point she came right up to us before continuing on her way.

22 Oct
In the morning we watched Stripy fishing south of HEC. She passed right by us and then continued fishing to the north. Three kilometres further north we saw a dark bear, christened Shadow. Then at H48 we watched Twofish for more than half an hour as he fished for the red salmon. Also saw four black grey wolves at H48! They were very shy and moved off quickly.

Grizzly on a deer

16 Oct
We watched this afternoon a grizzly bear who had discovered a deer carcass left by hunters. Such bears are stressed and we stayed in the cars and kept a respectful distance. A we watched she alternately fed and then, using her front claws, drew dirt and debris over the carcass. A fascinating and rare experience.

17 Oct
We watched the grizzly on the deer again in the morning. Then we saw two more grizzly bears as it was getting dark just north of HOC.

18 Oct
The female grizzly was still on the deer this morning. In the afternoon we had some great and lengthy viewing of Stripy Bear at H48.

Lots of close-up grizzly viewing

Oct 11
Great beginning. We had just arrived at HOC corner when a grizzly sub-adult came along the shore line totally oblivious to us. When he was about 30 metres away we made him aware of your presence. He stood still for a while, then sniffed us and slowly moved away.

Oct 12
Watched as Stripy, a fat and happy grizzly bear, moved along at H49. She slowly made her way up a side channel after some good viewing. Great viewing in the afternoon. We watched as a sub-adult fished energetically at H49. He ran into the water to grab fish. At one point he caught a fish and promptly dropped another fish in his mouth. From then on he was known as Two-Fish.

Oct 13
We watched a medium to large grizzly at HEC this morning. She moved between the two cars before moving off into the bush. We later saw her again. And then in the afternoon even better viewing as bear came right past our car.

Apple watching us

7 Oct
Saw a very wary black bear at H43. He was definitely on grizzly turf and seemed to know it as he moved off into the bush soon after we arrived.

8 Oct
Saw large adult grizzly bear just south of HEC feeding in logjam. She wandered a little and then crossed the road and disappeared into the bush. Then we saw Apple at the top of of a rise overlooking the road. We watched entranced as she scratched, peed, did a stiff-legged "cowboy" walk and then slowly came down towards us and crossed the road.

In the afternoon we saw the newly-christened Stripy Bear again. Then we watched a younger grizzly for about half an hour a little to the north. On the way back we once again had excellent views of Stripy Bear as she moved underneath us.

9 Oct
Again watched Stripy Bear (400lb female) as she fished extensively near HEC.

Cubs in the dusk

3 Oct
Saw black bears in a clearing to the left as we approached MSP. Then saw a grizzly mum with two cubs. Mum stood to stare and then turned and left with cubs before stopping for one final look. Just before it got dark we also saw a mum with three large cubs at MSP. I suspect from their size this was Tulip and her brood.

4 Oct
We watched Apple, one of our favourite grizzlies, feeding at head of river. She moved around a bit but we kept watching her, viewing for more than half an hour.

5 Oct
No bears today.

Grizzlies on the river

28 Sept
Grizzly south of HOC on a gravel bar as it was getting dark. We watched for a few minutes until he disappeared.

29 Sept
No bears today but lots of sign at MSP including prints, scat and fresh digging.

30 Sept
One fairly young brown black bear at WHC.

1 Oct
Great morning sighting of medium-sized grizzly bear at H48. Suspect it is Apple, a bear we have seen many times over previous years.

Four large grizzlies

24 Sept
Lots of bear sign and half-eaten fish today. Then, just as it was getting dark, Tulip, a grizzly bear we know well, appeared with her three cubs. They must be two-year-old but are so big that they almost match her for size. We sat quietly about 20 metres away.

25 Sept
Saw a dark, medium-sized grizzly about about two kilometres south of HOC early in the morning. The bear disappeared, re-appeared and then retreated into the brush. During the day we saw a brown black bear with a light muzzle on WHC on opposite side. Then a large black bear just south of MEC. Later that afternoon we spotted a large grizzly just north of HOC. Walked upstream on the far side. Large bear: estimated 500lbs. Also saw two beavers at HOC.

Sept 26
Lots of bald eagles during rafting today.

Beavers and black bears

20 Sept
Distant sighting of a grizzly bear. Also saw two beavers in the river near HCB and a porcupine.

21 Sept
Watched two or three year old black bear grazing for 10 minutes on lake road. At HC we watched large black bear emerge just before dusk.

22 Sept

No bears today.

Tracks... and one great viewing

15 Sept
Two or three year old black bear viewing at the head of the river.

16 Sept
Two or three year old black bear viewing at HC spawning channel.

17 Sept
One brown black bear in the morning. Multiple grizzly tracks under Duncan River bridge. Then some excellent viewing just as dusk was beginning to fall of a grizzly bear that fished energetically for salmon barely 25 metres from us.

Spring Bear Viewing

We had a good spring and saw dozens of bears but we haven't kept accurate records of bear sightings for May and June 2008. Promise to do better next year and offer a fuller account.