There's no denying that 2009 hasn't been a great bear-viewing season so far. Several factors seem to have combined to keep the grizzlies out of the valley and up in the high country.
We can only speculate but the single biggest factor seems to have been a record huckleberry crop - the largest that anyone in the area can remember. Lots and lots of sun and the right temperatures meant that the bushes were hanging heavy with huckleberries all the way into October.
Probably because of that the bears we have seen are mostly fat, sometimes extremely fat, and fairly lazy.
That said all our guests who have come in October have seen a grizzly bear (although one group of four only had a fleeting glance) and many of our guests have still had great viewing, although not in the same numbers they might have expected in other years.
The good news is that lots of berries and lots of fat bears should mean lots of cubs next year. If our inferences are right next year could be one of the best viewing years ever.
Unlike some of the larger viewing operations on the coasts our bears are totally wild and not habituated and so our numbers will always be far lower and less predictable. But that's what we think makes our holidays exciting.
Seeing a totally wild bear in a totally wild setting is a thrilling sensation.
Here is a partial record of bear sightings so far this autumn:
Sept 19th
Our first good viewing of the season. Apple, one of our favourite bears, just walking down the dirt track towards us. She kept coming until she was about 30 metres away and then disappeared into the bush. Half an hour later, around 7.45am, she emerged just north of Echo Creek and we watched her for around 30 minutes fishing and swimming. Eventually she crossed the road and headed back into the bushes.
Sept 20th
Grizzly on river, just above Echo Creek. When it saw us, it paused, sniffed and then moved into the bushes. After a few minutes it emerged again downstream. Appeared to be a young adult with a dark face fringed with blonde. Could be Twofish from last year?
Oct 1st
At 5.30pm Apple appeared at just north of Echo Creek 48. At first she was between our two 4x4s and seemed a little uncertain as to do what to do. Then she moved onto the river and began fishing. We headed downstream and stopped. Then she appeared int the distance and slowly began to approach us. She eventually came within about 15 metres of the car then walked up onto the road, turned her bottom towards us, did a large dump and headed off into the bushes.
Oct 4th
Mum with 2 cubs at Echo 48. Very wary. A brief sighting but nice to see the cubs.
Oct 6th
Saw mum with two cubs again. She was very coy. She crossed the road about 100 metres ahead of the car and then went into the bushes before emerging on the river. We watched for quite a while as it grew darker as she moved downriver with the cubs. Eventually they all swam across the river and disappeared.
More to follow.....
