Mountains and valleys in the Kootenay Rockies provide expansive habitat for black and grizzly bears.
Driving on backroads may yield sightings of bears chomping on roadside grasses – keep the camera handy.
Take a bear-watching tour at Grizzly Bear Ranch near Kaslo to increase the odds of sighting a bear and to learn interesting bear facts. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is also keen on educating guests at their Grizzly Bear Refuge, which is home to Boo, a grizzly bear orphaned as a cub. Check with local Visitor Centres for information about bear-watching tours available in the Kootenay Rockies.
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Bear Watching in the Kootenay Rockies
In the Lardeau Valley, north of Kaslo, multi-day bear watching tours in remote areas are available in spring and fall.
Early in the year, trek out in a 4x4 vehicle to look for bears that have emerged from their dens and are in search of green grasses and plants to eat. Autumn sees grizzlies come down from the mountains to eat spawning salmon, and tours use 4x4s to see the bears in actions by the riverbanks in the morning and evening.
Grizzly Bear at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
In winter, the Golden Eagle Express gondola hoists skiers right over a grizzly bear – of course, he’s sound asleep in a snow-covered enclosure. The grizzly is Boo, orphaned as a cub and now a resident of the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat.
In summer, the gondola is still in operation and provides a chance for aerial look at Boo. For the ultimate Boo-view, book a refuge tour and ride the chairlift to the Grizzly Refuge. Watch Boo playing, eating or swimming in the pond. Guides provide information and answer questions about Boo and bears, and an interpretive centre has displays and facts.
Bear Safety
For the safety of humans and bears, always follow these strict but simple precautions from BC Parks and the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC:
- Choose a bear-viewing operator that is respectful and protective of the bears and their needs.
- Bears may approach humans for many reasons; most are not threatening reasons. During an uncomfortably close encounter, stay calm, don’t move quickly, never run and listen to the wildlife viewing guide.
- Never feed or approach a bear – even to get that perfect photo. Hungry or angry bears can attack without warning. Do not use flash photography around bears.
- Vehicles should be well off the road when viewing or photographing wildlife.
- Leave the pets at home or on a very tight leash to avoid attracting or angering bears.
- To avoid human food conditioning of bears, food or beverages other than water should not be consumed near habitats that are frequented by bears.