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Adventures in the Land of Grizzly Bears

In 2018 we had a great group of guests on our Grizzly Bear Discovery Tour in Northwest BC.  The group spent three night at the beautiful Yellow Cedar Lodge while we explored remote coastal estuaries in search of Grizzly Bears feeding on Lyngby Sedge.  We used two jet boats to access the estuaries where the bears come out to feed.  The last two nights were spent at a remote floating lodge that we used as out base for exploring and searching for Grizzly Bears cruising he shore line and feeding on sedges and crustaceans.  Half the group flew in on a float plane and the other half took a two hour boat ride.

You do not want to miss out out this amazing adventure as we have another trip scheduled for June 1-7, 2019.  Here are some photos form past trips.

Floating lodge for the last three nights of bear viewing
A mom with three cubs digging for crabs
A young cub cruising the beach
A family of t four grizzly bears
Enroute to a remote coastal estuary
A young grizzly with a mouthful of Lyngby Sedge
A young grizzly playing with a stick
Off to go find some bears
Big male with a mouthful of sedge
Young bear resting after a long day of playing
This guy wasn’t expecting to see us!
The beautiful Yellow Cedar Lodge where we stay the first three nights of the trip

 

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2019 Adventure Brochure is out!

We are excited to release the dates for our 2019 Adventure Tours and the brochure.  Here is a snapshot of the two page brochure.  Individual brochures for each tour will be out shortly.

Let us know if you have any questions about this years tours!

Rob.bryce@unbc.ca

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New Schedule for 2019

We are excited for the upcoming year of Adventure Tours through UNBC Continuing Studies.  Every year the tours get better as we fine tune all the small details.  Most tours are only delivered once a year and occasionally twice if sufficient demand well in advance of the tour date.  These tours are not geared towards academic students but rather those with an interest in adventure and experiencing northern BC. The tours have a small group size of upto 10-12 guests at he most and rely heavily on  guest speakers and authentic locals that share their knowledge about the places we visit. Our average age of our guests is around 60 years old and some as old as 85.  We do have younger people join us as well but predominantly it is an older clientele.

I thought I would share 10 photos form last year that highlight some of the trips we did.

We watched this little grizzly for 30 min before he even knew he was being watched!
Our group that toured Kitsault and Alice Arm along with the manager of the Modern day Ghost Town!
One of the many cannery sites we visit on our “Canneries of the Northcoast Tour”. A great tour for those looking for unique and seldom visited sites!
We use the majestic Skeena River for a couple of our tours. There is nothing like the passing through the coastal mountains on the river on a bluebird day!
Very few people get a chance to go through the “Grand Canyon of the Fraser” in a jet boat and experience what the early explorers did!
We find some of the nicest places on the north coast to enjoy a tasty lunch!
You will not find the uniqueness of these buildings anywhere else. Buildings that are over 100 years old and still standing today! Anyox is remote and inaccessible but we can get you there.
This place is a photographers dream and a place where you can go back in time!
We get you up close and personal with the longest railway bridge in BC. Over 100 years old and still going strong!
Guest arriving on float plane to view bears in a remote Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
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Remote Grizzly Bear Viewing

There is something very special about watching these magnificent animals in their natural habitat feeding, playing and cruising along the shore.  The spring month of June is a time as the bears come out of the safety of the forest to feed on the protein rich Lygnby Sedge.  Patience is key to viewing these animals but they always come out.  Some are not afraid of humans and allow us to get relatively close while in the safety of a boat. Others we must stalk them using the wind, electric motors, paddles and poles to keep our presence unknown.  Moms with cubs can be very shy and always on the lookout for danger and other bears.

Our Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Tour on June 6-11, 2018 encompasses two great lodges to use as a home base while we rest up each evening before the next days adventure.  We use Jet boats, Ocean Boats and float planes to access some of the remotest and beautiful bear viewing locations.  This is truly an amazing trip for photographers or those just looking for an  adventure.

Small Grizzly Cub cruising the shoreline looking for his next meal
Small Grizzly Cub cruising the shoreline looking for his next meal

 

A family of Grizzlies scouring the shoreline for clams and other food
A family of Grizzlies scouring the shoreline for clams and other food
A nice looking grizzly with a mouthful of Lyngby Sedge
A nice looking grizzly with a mouthful of Lyngby Sedge
This Grizzly mom is taking her young to safety
This Grizzly mom is taking her young to safety
Two young males pay fighting in the sedge
Two young males pay fighting in the sedge
Accommodations fro two days in the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
Accommodations fro two days in the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
This grizzly liked to Swim rather than walk along shore
This grizzly liked to Swim rather than walk along shore
A mom and three cubs eating the rich Lyngby Sedge
A mom and three cubs eating the rich Lyngby Sedge
This mom was always on the lookout for the big males
This mom was always on the lookout for the big males
Poling through a remote coastal estuary in search of Grizzly Bears
Poling through a remote coastal estuary in search of Grizzly Bears
Accommodations for nights 1-3

 

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Grizzly Bear Viewing on BC’s North Coast

On our Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery tour we use jet boats, float planes and ocean boats to bring guests to some of the regions most remote and secluded bear viewing locations.  We  travel by jet boat on the ocean to remote coastal estuaries that are filled with thick carpets of Lyngby Sedge.  We use jet boats so that we can maneuver through all the side channels and that intertwine amongst the estuary and hopefully get us close enough for some amazing photos. A float plane will be used to transport guests to a floating lodge where grizzlies roam the shoreline just minutes away. This year’s tour is June 6-11, 2018 starting in Terrace, BC.

Young Grizzly posing for the camera
Young Grizzly posing for the camera
Grizzly Bear and Cub posing for the Camera

 

Grizzly Bear combing the shore looking for Sedges
Stalking Grizzlies in the estuary
Float Plane landing with Grizzly Bear Viewing Guests
Family of Grizzlies looking for a meal
Family of Grizzlies looking for a meal
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Grizzly Bear Stalking

On our Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery tour we use jet boat son a few of the days to travel on the ocean to remote coastal estuaries that are filled with thick carpets of Lyngby Sedge.  We use jet boats so that we can maneuver through all the side channels and that intertwine amongst the estuary.  The shallow draft of the jet boat allows us to pole or use electric motors to slowly stalk and maneuver the boat into position to see the bears without scaring them.  We know the bears come out every day to feed so sometimes its just a matter of time before they decide to show themselves.  At the end of the bear viewing day we then use the louder jet boat engines to cruise of the river on a sightseeing tour. This year’s tour is June 6-10, 2017 starting in Terrace, BC.

Looking for Grizzlies
Stalking Grizzlies in the estuary
A mom and cub feeding on the sedge grass
Looking for bears in a coastal estuary
A family of bears posing for the camera

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Grizzlies and Lyngby Sedge

For coastal Grizzly Bears one of the most important spring food sources is the Lyngby sedge (Carex lyngbyei).  This sedge grows in the intertidal zone and can tolerate fresh and salt water. The bears feast on this abundant spring vegetation because of its high crude protein content as it contains 25% raw protein. One of the easiest ways to determine a Grizzly Bears activity in an area is to look at the tops of the Lyngby Sedge.  If they are flat on the top instead of pointed then this would indicate that a bear has eaten the tops off.  The next step is too see if the tops are still green which would indicate that the bear has just recently eaten the sedge or is there a brown stain or color to the top which indicates that some time has passed since the bear ate them.

The estuaries and coastline with sedges in the  spring months are definitely areas where one would begin to look for Grizzly Bears as they begin their summer long process of fattening up.

To see these bears in their natural habitat feeding in a sea of green sedge our UNBC “Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery Tour” is an excellent way to visit very remote locations and watch these magnificent creatures photograph them.  June 6-10, 2017 starting in Terrace, BC

Grizzly enjoying a meal in the Sedge Grass
Grizzly Bear eating Lyngby Sedge

 

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Grizzly Bear Adventure Program

Are you a photographer or adventurer who likes to explore off the beaten path. Our “Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery Tour” is a tour uses jet boats, ocean boats and seaplanes to access some of Northwest BC’s most inaccessible and remote Grizzly Bear viewing areas.  Imagine being poled through narrow channels surrounded by fields of sedge grass and waiting in anticipation around each bend for the perfect photo of of a grizzly bear in its natural habitat. We utilize jet boats and ocean boats maneuver the guests into that perfect location for bear viewing.  Imagine staying overnight in a lodge in the midst of a grizzly bear sanctuary where the bears are only minutes away.  Imagine jet boating through narrow ocean inlets to remote estuaries where feeding grizzly bears go about there daily fill of lygby sedge.  You do not want to miss this opportunity view, photograph and explore northwest BC in search of the Grizzly Bear. Photos credit @simonsees

Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery Tour

Grizzly Bear beachcombing
Grizzly Bear eating Lygby sedge
Coastal Grizzly Bear
Family of Grizzly Bears exploring the coastline
Young Grizzly Bear

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Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery Tour Video!

What to expect when you take part int he 2017 UNBC Adventure Tour “Northwest Grizzly Bear Discovery Tour”. Adventure and exploration as we view and photograph Grizzly Bears in their natural habitat in remote locations throughout Northwest BC. We use Jet Boats, Ocean Boats, and float planes to access some of this regions most inaccesible bear viewing areas. Don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime June 6-10, 2017. Tour starts in Terrace, BC.

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Grizzly Bear Facts

Did you Know?

  • The latin name is Ursus arctos horribilus
  • Average weight- 250 – 350 kg (male) and 125 – 175 kg (female)
  • Life expectancy- 15 – 20 years
  • The grizzly bear is the second largest land carnivore in North America.
  • The grizzly bear has been known to run at speeds of 55 kilometres per hour
  • The grizzly bear is not a true hibernator. In the winter its body temperature may drop a few degrees and its respiration may slow slightly, but it can remain active all winter
  • It is considered a meat-eater, the grizzly bear is actually omnivorous, which means it eats both meat and vegetation

If you would like to experience a trip of a lifetime learning about grizzlies and viewing them in remote locations in northwest BC then check out our “Northwest BC Grizzly Bear Discovery Tour”  June 6-10, 2017.

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