Bear Watching
Grizzly bear crossing a stream (Canadian Tourism Commission photo)
The Bella Coola Valley and adjoining Tweedsmuir Park are home to a large population of grizzly and black bears and bear watching has become a popular activity here.
The animals actively roam over a wide area late in the day and throughout the night and to the casual visitor can occasionally be hard to spot. Some, but not all bears tend to follow the ripening fruit and vegetation up into the surrounding hillsides during spring and summer, and then return to the valley floor in late August to feast on the spawning salmon.
When to Bear Watch in Bella Coola
Although visitors may spot bears while driving, knowing when and where to view bears and safely and more closely can be a challenge. Local Bella Coola Valley guides offer bear-watching trips and tours during the bear "season." These tours are either by boats that "drift" the rivers or take enthusiasts hiking to the best spots. Going with a guide is certainly the recommended approach, and will ensure that both bear and visitor are safe.
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Check with valley guides directly regarding the best time to visit Bella Coola for bear-watching and note that as with any wildlife-watching excursion, sightings are not always guaranteed.
Best Bear Spots in the Valley
A number of spots within Tweedsmuir Park offer a good chance to view bears from a safe location. Fisheries Pool, located about 40 minutes east of Bella Coola townsite is a popular location, and has a small, 12-spot camping site. The Belarko Spawning channels, located about 45 minutes east of Bella Coola, also have a viewing site overlooking the river and within clear view of the road. This is a popular place for viewing and overnight camping is not allowed.
Remember that a bear that has learned to expect food from humans eventually has to be destroyed. It is virtually impossible to recondition a bear that has learned to connect food with people and human/bear conflict almost always results.
Bear Safety
For the safety of humans and bears, always follow these strict but simple precautions from BC Parks, when visiting the Bella Coola area:
- Never, never feed a bear or approach it – even to get that perfect photograph. A hungry or angry bear can attack without warning.
- Don't clean fish on the beach or on a picnic table. Instead, use a rock in a fast-flowing river as your table, and allow the discarded material to wash down stream.
- Don't cook near your tent, and store food cached high in a tree, at least 3m/12ft above the ground, or in your car.Don't burn the tins or wrappers – this smells delicious to a nearby bear. Wash all cooking utensils with soap and water and dump the water into a pit toilet.
- Bears are attracted to the smell of insect repellent, fruit-scented soaps and shampoos, and even toothpaste. Store these with the food. And don't wipe your hands on your clothing after eating or cooking.
- In addition to the food precautions, don't camp under the stars. Use a tent or camper. Hike in groups, making lots of noise, especially near rivers, and keep children close.
- If at all possible, leave the pets at home or on a very tight leash. A free running, barking dog can attract and anger a bear, provoking an attack.
- If you see fresh bear droppings, tracks or trampled vegetation, leave the area immediately. If you smell dead wildlife or see circling crows or ravens, leave the area immediately and notify a park staff person.
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Bella Coola Mountain Lodge
Bella Coola, British Columbia
V0T 1C0
Websitehttp://www.bcmountainlodge.com
Toll-free866-982-2298
Phone250-982-2298
Join our tours with professional biologists to float tranquil rivers in search of wild grizzly & black bears. We may also see eagles, salmon, & other wildlife roaming & feeding in coastal streams & inlets from our expedition rafts & boats or on our ecological walking tours searching for grizzly bears. For something different & exciting, try our eco-rafting or salmon snorkel tours. Kynoch Adventures & Bella Coola Mountain Lodge provide premier sustainable wildlife & wilderness tours throughout Bella Coola Valley & can arrange full itineraries including accommodation, meals, transfers & tours. From our beautiful lodge, to the majestic scenery & wildlife, BC's central-coast will be the highlight of your holiday.
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7001 Corbould Rd
Bella Coola, British Columbia
V0T 1C0
Websitehttp://www.tweedsmuirparklodge.com
Toll-free877-982-2407
Phone604-905-4994
Our Grizzly Bear Tours have been selected by the Canadian Tourism Commission as part of their "Signature Experiences Collection"! Our tours run September through October. This is when the local rivers are teeming with salmon which draw the Grizzly Bears hoping to fatten up for the winter. At this time of year the Grizzlies are intent on fishing and are more tolerant of both other bears and people and are therefore much easier to observe.
Accompanied by an experienced guide, our non-motorized drift trips are the perfect way to see the bears and wildlife of the Bella Coola Valley.
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