4 September - Grizzly bears!

Sunday 4 September

Today was our second tour with Go Wild/Campbell River Safaris. This time we started earlier to head off up to Orford River, mainland BC to search for grizzly bears. We had the same guide, Leif, which made us very happy as he is very personable. He talked about what we were seeing en route to our destination which was good because it was a two hour boat ride to Orford River.

As we approached our destination, Leif told us about the instructions we should observe once we started our search for bears. He told us under no circumstances should we take any form of food with us, water only was allowed. Bears have an acute sense of smell. So he also stressed that he was hoping the boat trip up had blown away strong scents of perfume or deodorant!

The most important instruction was the need to follow the instructions of our guides to the letter. If we are told to get back on the bus, we are to do so immediately and without any last clicks for photographs. Also when out of the bus we were to stay as a group and never to be more than arm's length from another member of the group.

Leif said that these instructions would be repeated during the tour to ensure everyone was paying attention. Despite all this (and, yes, we did hear these same instructions again), there were those who did not pay attention - moving away or taking a last minute photo!

We arrived at the First Nations settlement at Orford River and were greeted by First Nations local people. Hamalco is their tribal name. We were very well taken care of throughout the day with all the first nations guides and Campbell River guides keeping an eye out for bears while we were watching those which had already been sighted.

All the guides were focusing their attention on the area around where we were standing when we were not on the bus or in an observation tower (which had lockable gates). In front, to the side and behind.

It was a wonderful day of sightings. Even one of the Campbell River guides said what wonderful sightings we had – 18 bears!

The pictures really tell the story so I shall annotate our day between the pictures.

Orford River

 Our first sighting was from Tower No.1 where this photo was taken from. It was but a fleeting glimpse and then the bear was gone. One of our First Nations guides walked back up the road to see which way the bear had gone, but there was no sight.

Our first real sighting

 Having reboarded the bus, we followed the road along the river and then we stopped. Keen eyes had spotted this bear. We were watching her from outside the bus. No protection so all our guides were being very cautious.

She was quite a way off, but we watched her for some while.

 After much jostling among the group (there were 30 of us in two buses). The guides whispered (another one of our instructions - only speak in hushed voices) that we should get on the bus right away. Of course there was always the one who had to get that last photo. But we did all board the buses safely and the bear in fact disappeared into the trees. I have a story about this bear below, once you come to the end of all the bear photos.

A short way further along the road, more bears

The single bear we encountered we were, again, viewing from the bank of the river. Then two more bears appeared and we were able to watch for about 20 minutes. All the time the guides were watchful all around as we were away from the bus and not in a safe tower.

And so we moved on to this tower with the river open to the right

... and to the left

Looking from the tower, in the trees to the right were four bears, a mother and three cubs. Down the river to the left was this group of sleeping bears, almost out of sight. Bears have sleeping hollows which they return to year after year. This was a big group.

Finally the bears in the trees showed themselves

This is mum

The cubs were very active catching fish for themselves

Two seen here and one just visible behind the tree stump on the right

Do they know we are in the tower - you betcha - he's looking straight at us

The shadow on the left of the photo is part of the wooden structure of the tower. We were less then 10 metres from this family group as they came past us

As the family of four approached these bears started to take notice

As the three cubs made their way along the river the sleeping group stood up and started to take notice. A couple of them crossed the river, but the others just kept an eye on the approaching family. Two of the cubs started approaching (in an aggressive manner, we were later told). Mum quickly ran between the cubs and the other bears. No visible engagement happened, but the Mum and cubs turned back along the river from the direction they had come.

We were later told that the guides believe it was possible the mother may have been related to the other bears. The cubs would not have known this. Family members do not fight each other. Very little is known about bears' behaviour once they are grown and leave a family unit.

These claws are the perfect killing machine

September is the time when the salmon is running. The river where we spent all this time was full of salmon. It was very shallow - easy pickings for the bears. Our guides told us that bears are very lazy, they will take whatever then can, even rotting fish caught and discarded by other predatory animals, such as eagles.

There were lots of sea birds to clean up after the bears too. An fine example of the circle of life and how nature takes its course.

And so the family departs and heads back into the trees

We were on this part of the river for almost an hour. I have only provided a small sample of the photos I took (over 300). I hope you have enjoyed viewing them.

One last mention of how dangerous this activity can be. Once we were on our return to the Orford River dock to have lunch, one of the Campbell River guides shared with us a story from the previous day. He was quite emotional as he related how he and the group had encountered that female bear we saw early in the morning. He had been scouting and came upon her unexpectedly. While backing away the bear rushed him very aggressively. Obviously he lived to tell the tale, but he said that was the reason we were ushered back on to the bus very quickly as the bear began to roam closer to our position on the river bank. 

I'm sure those on the bus who had to be hurried along would think twice before disregarding the guides' instructions another time.

One of the lookout towers

Back at Orford River for lunch

A beautiful spot

As we returned to Campbell River we passed this mansion which was built by Michelle Pfeiffer and she lives there when not working. Very secluded. 

Lots of whirlpools as the tides compete

There ones bigger that this one

A bonus on our return to town was hearing of an Orca sighting. We were able to stay with the pod for some time as we were waiting for another whale watch boat to arrive.

On our return to town it was already quite late so we opted for an early dinner back at Dick’s Fish and Chips before heading back to Hidden Harbour for our last night. All in all a wonderful couple of days in Campbell River.

A lovely town with lots to see and do. We would love to return.