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Northern British Columbia
stretches from the major population centres of Prince Rupert
and Prince George north to the border with The Yukon and
Northwest Territories, and is bounded by the Pacific and
Southeast Alaska to the west, and Northern Alberta to the
east. It encompasses almost half of the Province, much of it
landlocked, as well as the most northerly 125 mile section of
Canada's West Coast, and the rugged Princess Charlotte
Islands, known to their First Nations inhabitants as Haida
Gwaii.
It is also home to the only reserve in North America
specifically designated for the preservation of Grizzly Bears,
and the coastal waters either side of the territorial divide
with Alaska is the only place on earth where you can witness
the dramatic spectacle of Humpback Whales "bubble netting"
schooling baitfish and lunge feeding. |
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A 30 minute floatplane flight
or 2 hour boat ride north of Prince Rupert, a port of call on the
Inside Passage sailing to Alaska, is remote Khutzeymateen Inlet at
the head of which lies Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. The
spring months of May and June are the best time of year to view
bears here as many can be seen grazing on estuarine sedge grasses
close to the shoreline. The sanctuary can be visited on a live
aboard sailboat cruise, or fly-in tour with floatplane transfers
from Prince Rupert and bear viewing excursions by boat. The latter
can be arranged as a day trip or an overnight stay including
bunkhouse and tented accommodation at a floating camp just outside
the sanctuary. Salmon enter their spawning waters from August
onwards and most of the bears move inland to feed in inaccessible
streams and creeks, though some are still seen in the estuary, or
swimming across it.
Humpback Whales arrive off the coast from their breeding grounds
in Hawaii in July and begin and begin an intense period of feeding
in these nutrient rich waters which continues on into the autumn.
Orca and Gray Whales are also regularly seen in the area though
the playful and acrobatic Humpbacks are very much the stars of the
show.
Inland from Prince Rupert there are a number of pristine river
systems which support some of the highest population densities of
Grizzly Bears in Canada, and very knowledgeable local guides
specialise in small scale (maximum 4 people), low impact bear
viewing in these pristine and sensitive eco-systems. From mid May
to mid June small, shallow draft, very quiet jetboats are used to
get you close to the spectacle of a dozen or more grizzlies
contentedly grazing the same sedge meadows. In August when the
salmon run is in full flow, and October when the bears are
switching from the last salmon to berries and roots and getting
ready to den, all viewing is done on foot, often utilising natural
hides to get close to the action.
The bears in the area have had little or no contact with humans
and are therefore very shy compared to those in areas where
commercial bear viewing has been conducted for many years, but the
guides have perfected a stealth and a back to basics approach that
makes for exciting, intimate, and very natural encounters with
these majestic animals.
Northern BC has broader appeal beyond its obvious wildlife
attractions however. It boasts some of the most spectacular
scenery in Western Canada, and many visitors to the region say
that it is how they imagine Alaska to have been before it became a
mass tourism destination.
It is also one of the best places to experience first hand the
vibrant First Nations culture of the Pacific Northwest with the
Tsimshian, Heiltsuk, Gitskan, and Haida Nations all well
represented here. Whatever your particular wildlife interests, a
visit to Northern British Columbia will not disappoint. |
