 Salmon spawning All over the region, wildlife viewing expeditions from a few hours to a few weeks are possible with appropriate planning. While there are many guided excursion options for whale watching and bird watching, those in search of other species can create their own rewarding wildlife-viewing experiences.
A word or two on your excursion:
- Do not disturb the wildlife
- Please leave the area you visit undisturbed and be sure to carry out your garbage
A word or two on safety:
- Obey posted signs and keep to designated trails
Tofino and Ucluelet
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, located between the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet, is one of the best places to see wildlife on Vancouver Island. Marine animals - such as giant barnacles, sea anemones and starfish - are easy to find in the intertidal areas of the park's beaches. Great numbers of grey whales range close to the shore in March and April, while sightings of Orca and humpback whales, though less common, are also likely during this time. Keep your eyes open for mink, sea otters, raccoons and black bears throughout the park. If you're a bird lover, watch for the waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds that winter along the coast from November to March or the large flocks of migrating birds that arrive in spring. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a 108-km (65-mi) drive west from Port Alberni via Highway 4. > Pacific Rim Park website.
Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill and Alert Bay
The waters around Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill and Alert Bay support an Orca population of about 200 that reside here for part of the year. Other large mammals that frequent these waters include humpback and minke Whales, Dall's and harbour porpoises as well as Pacific white-sided dolphins. Pacific harbour seals and Steller sea lions are also abundant. The seals' peak pupping time is in mid-July, while the sea lions' numbers are greatest in spring and fall. Male Californian sea lions and Northern elephant seals are also occasionally sighted here. The islands of the Broughton and Blackfish archipelagos are home to large numbers of black bears, deer, river otters, mink, raccoons and wolves. Black-tailed deer, black bears and Roosevelt elk can sometimes be spotted along the stretch of Highway 19 between Sayward and Port McNeill. Main departure points in this area for wildlife watching tours are Port McNeill, Telegraph Cove, Sayward and Alert Bay (Cormorant Island). Port McNeill is approximately a 45-minute drive south from Port Hardy via Highway 19.
Southern Gulf Islands
The southern Gulf Islands lie in close proximity to the feeding grounds of Orcas, with their waters home to three pods of Southern Resident Orcas. Sightings are most common between May and November, when great numbers of salmon, their staple food, are spawning nearby. Guided whale-watching tours operate from Saltspring Island as well as Vancouver Island. Renting a kayak or taking a ferry between the southern Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island and/or the mainland are affordable ways to view whales from the water. Other species on view in these waters include Dall's and harbour porpoises, seals, sea lions and bald eagles. Many bird species, including thousands of Brandt's cormorants and Pacific loons (from late winter to early spring), live or feed in the area, especially along Active Pass, where strong tidal currents churn up plankton and small fish from colder depths. As many as 10,000 Bonaparte's gulls can be present in the pass and just outside the south entrance in April and May. Bald eagles are a regular sight during the winter. The main southern islands, Saltspring, Galiano, Mayne, Pender and Saturna, all offer regular ferry service from Vancouver Island and the mainland, while an inter-island ferry service makes hopping between these islands easy. From Vancouver Island, catch the ferry at Swartz Bay. Swartz Bay is a 30-minute drive north from downtown Victoria via Highway 17. If your destination is Salt Spring Island, you may also catch the ferry at Crofton. From the mainland, catch the ferry at Tsawwassen, a 45-minute drive south from Vancouver via Highway 99.
Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park
Discovery Island is a sensitive seabird nesting area and ecological reserve. Seals, sea lions, otters and bald eagles also call it home. While there's a lot of wildlife to see at any time of year, you must come in spring or autumn to view migratory birds. A single hiking trail runs from the lighthouse on Sea Bird Point to the western shore of the park. If you desire relatively untouched natural surroundings, you'll enjoy viewing wildlife at Discovery Island. Book a kayaking tour of the island or rent a kayak for a more independent visit. Inexperienced kayakers should take a guided tour. There are no anchorage or moorage facilities in the park. It is also strictly prohibited to land on any of the Chain Islets that lie between Oak Bay and Discovery Park. Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park is located two nautical miles east of Vancouver Island. Access to the park is by boat only. The closest boat launch is at Cattle Point in Oak Bay. A word or two on safety: - Waters can be treacherous - make crossings at slack tide in calm weather
> Discovery Island Marine Park website.
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