We had our first bear sighting of the year. Unexpectedly, it is not a black bear but a young and bold grizzly bear. He (or she) was eating grass and for a while stared intently into a hole in the bottom of a large cedar tree. Do not know whether it managed to get any extra bits out for dinner or not.

Bobcat

Saw a bobcat on the way home yesterday. From a distance we thought it might have been a coyote, but as we got closer it clearly didn't have the tail. It also moved like a cat. As we passed it hid in the bush but Kristin got a good view of its head, just standing their staring. For both of us, this was our second bobcat ever. No photos, I'm afraid.

Flicker fight

For the last three days, we have been witnessing a duel between two male northern flickers (from the woodpecker family). There were both trying to claim the nest in an old tree trunk where we've had flickers nesting every year since our arrival.

After continuous chasing and dive-bombing into each other, the bigger and brighter colored flicker seems ta have won. As a sign of victory, he keeps tapping away on one of the metal chimneys on our roof, making the whole house vibrate. He won't let his rivals forget who is the boss here. Kristin.

Autumn 2009 Part 3

October 20th

Saw a wary grizzly again at Sierra Charlie.

October 24th

7.30am. Fairly young bear just north of Echo moving upstream. Watched him for a while.

In the afternoon we saw a Mum with 2 cubs of the year. She was very wary and only came out when it was beginning to get dark.

October 26th

Watched a young grizzly just south of Echo in the snow and the mist for about an hour and a half. Beautiful.

October 29th

Watched a young bear by Delta Echo for at least half an hour (see photo above.) He moved around a lot turning over stones and looking for fish caught up on snags.

October 30th

Great viewing of a youngish bear at Sierra Charlie. First we watched him near the top and then further down by the bridge. He was fishing and wandering around. When others arrived at first he was spooked but then he resumed fishing.

October 31st

Some nice viewing of Rapid bear in his usual spot from the raft. Gillian's guests saw a lynx, the first of the season. Last day of season. Great guests. More next year.

Autumn 2009 Part 2

What a fat bear!


This year hasn't been a great year for bear-viewing probably because of the incredible huckleberry crop up here and the odd weather. In October, however, things began to pick up a little.

Here is a record of some more of your sightings.

October 8th

7.15am. Saw apple this morning on east side of Golf. She was eating clover and appeared extremely fat. She seemed a little more wary than normal and after a while moved off into the bush.

In the afternoon had a short glimpse of another smaller grizzly.

October 10th

7.30am. Apple was at Golf again. She moved up and down between there and the creek a little below, but seemed more wary than usual again. Then she moved back to the apple tree at Golf. She may be too fat to climb. To bring down the apples she just kind of reached forward with her huge belly and appeared as if she couldn't even stand up straight! Occasionally she grabbed the tree and shook it to bring down more apples. Then she begins to eat clover again. Fantastic viewing.

October 11th

Moose at 48. Very shy. That afternoon we watched Apple eating grass, clover and apples for more than an hour. Eventually she swam across the river and headed off downstream. Great display and some very happy guests.

October 14th

Just one dark silhouette of a bear today behind the car. Moved off into river.

October 15th

Amazing viewing just before lunch. We spotted Rapid Bear just south of the creek and then went ahead through the bushes and waited by the riverside. For more than three quarters of an hour we watched in absolute silence as he approached, stopping every few seconds to grab another salmon.

When he was about 100 feet away he saw us, sniffed and then carried on up the river. It was so quiet we could hear him crunching the fish in his mouth. Then as he drew parallel - now only only about 60 feet away - we resumed normal conversation so that we didn't surprise him at very close quarters. He moved up onto the bank, huffed a little and then moved off. At 2.00pm we saw him again - this time from the raft at almost exactly the same spot.

October 16th

Dawn at Sierra Charlie Gillian came across a bear on foot near dead fish corner. he ran off into the bushes with a lot of crashing.

October 19th

Watched a tall bear fishing at Hotel 485 for a while. He was tall and fairly thin, certainly compared to the others who seem to have had an amazing summer.

Then in the afternoon a cougar on the side of the river. Very rare sighting!

At 4.15pm a good viewing of a female sub-adult (watched her pee so definitely female). probably 2.5 years old. Saw her one more time before leaving.

Autumn 2009 Part 1

There's no denying that 2009 hasn't been a great bear-viewing season so far. Several factors seem to have combined to keep the grizzlies out of the valley and up in the high country.

We can only speculate but the single biggest factor seems to have been a record huckleberry crop - the largest that anyone in the area can remember. Lots and lots of sun and the right temperatures meant that the bushes were hanging heavy with huckleberries all the way into October.

Probably because of that the bears we have seen are mostly fat, sometimes extremely fat, and fairly lazy.

That said all our guests who have come in October have seen a grizzly bear (although one group of four only had a fleeting glance) and many of our guests have still had great viewing, although not in the same numbers they might have expected in other years.

The good news is that lots of berries and lots of fat bears should mean lots of cubs next year. If our inferences are right next year could be one of the best viewing years ever.

Unlike some of the larger viewing operations on the coasts our bears are totally wild and not habituated and so our numbers will always be far lower and less predictable. But that's what we think makes our holidays exciting.

Seeing a totally wild bear in a totally wild setting is a thrilling sensation.

Here is a partial record of bear sightings so far this autumn:

Sept 19th

Our first good viewing of the season. Apple, one of our favourite bears, just walking down the dirt track towards us. She kept coming until she was about 30 metres away and then disappeared into the bush. Half an hour later, around 7.45am, she emerged just north of Echo Creek and we watched her for around 30 minutes fishing and swimming. Eventually she crossed the road and headed back into the bushes.

Sept 20th

Grizzly on river, just above Echo Creek. When it saw us, it paused, sniffed and then moved into the bushes. After a few minutes it emerged again downstream. Appeared to be a young adult with a dark face fringed with blonde. Could be Twofish from last year?

Oct 1st

At 5.30pm Apple appeared at just north of Echo Creek 48. At first she was between our two 4x4s and seemed a little uncertain as to do what to do. Then she moved onto the river and began fishing. We headed downstream and stopped. Then she appeared int the distance and slowly began to approach us. She eventually came within about 15 metres of the car then walked up onto the road, turned her bottom towards us, did a large dump and headed off into the bushes.

Oct 4th

Mum with 2 cubs at Echo 48. Very wary. A brief sighting but nice to see the cubs.

Oct 6th

Saw mum with two cubs again. She was very coy. She crossed the road about 100 metres ahead of the car and then went into the bushes before emerging on the river. We watched for quite a while as it grew darker as she moved downriver with the cubs. Eventually they all swam across the river and disappeared.


More to follow.....

Cubs climbing

The unseasonally hot weather seems to have forced the bears off the valley roads and into the backcountry. Nevertheless we saw around half a dozen with the last group of guests including this great bit of viewing.

As we rounded a corner we came across a black bear mum with two cubs. The two cubs-of-the-year shot up a tree. We waited for a few minutes, keeping a respectful distance, and then they slowly began to come down again to rejoin mum. Gillian, our naturalist, captured one of them with this photo.

10 bears, a bobcat and jumping fish

For our first holiday of the year, we had a good start, seeing 10 different black bears, some of them more than once.

They ranged in colour from deep black to chocolate brown and some of them gave a great show and made for some fine photographs.

Also saw a bobcat, a coyote, some grizzly tracks. The weather was perfect for the whole trip - sunny and hot.

We also caught the tail end of the famous Gerrard Trout spawning, an annual event not far from the ranch that lasts through most of May.

One of our guests took this great shot of a male impressing the ladies.

Time to hibernate

Oct 30
Saw a medium-sized grizzly at the logjam north of HEC. She moved off slowly after a walk down the river.

Oct 31
Grizzly mum with cub near HOC in the morning. Pine Marten on the road near HEC. Then in the afternoon two otters from HOC as well as bats and American dippers.

The end of a great October and time for hibernation!

A plethora of grizzly bears

24 Oct
Great viewing of Stripy Bear. She just appeared south of HEC, swam across the river and then walked up towards us and under the bridge we were standing on as we stood and watched. Then she turned around and headed back again, once again passing only a few yards away.

25 Oct
More great viewing of Stripy Bear at HEC. She slowly and patiently fished both sides of the river. Unlike the younger bears she seems to know her own pace and carries her growing belly with a certain imperiousness. Every action she takes seems to count, every lunge brings up a fish.

26 Oct
Another amazing morning. Prolonged viewing of Stripy Bear at HEC but this time Twofish was there too, barely 100 yards away. He went into the bush and then reemerged. We watched him for more than half an hour making his way slowly north. And then as we crawled north we saw Apple cross the road in front of us about before heading off for more fishing. At the closest point she was about 10 feet from the car.

The grizzly came within a few yards of us

20 Oct
Some great viewing of Apple. We first saw her near GEB and then she moved south along the river. Later she moved onto the road and continued south.

21 Oct
A great day. In the morning we saw Stripy Bear from HEC and then watched Apple near GEB. Then during our rafting trip we came across Twofish, who reluctantly ceded the river to us. Then in the afternoon Apple began a long march down the road. At one point she came right up to us before continuing on her way.

22 Oct
In the morning we watched Stripy fishing south of HEC. She passed right by us and then continued fishing to the north. Three kilometres further north we saw a dark bear, christened Shadow. Then at H48 we watched Twofish for more than half an hour as he fished for the red salmon. Also saw four black grey wolves at H48! They were very shy and moved off quickly.

Grizzly on a deer

16 Oct
We watched this afternoon a grizzly bear who had discovered a deer carcass left by hunters. Such bears are stressed and we stayed in the cars and kept a respectful distance. A we watched she alternately fed and then, using her front claws, drew dirt and debris over the carcass. A fascinating and rare experience.

17 Oct
We watched the grizzly on the deer again in the morning. Then we saw two more grizzly bears as it was getting dark just north of HOC.

18 Oct
The female grizzly was still on the deer this morning. In the afternoon we had some great and lengthy viewing of Stripy Bear at H48.

Lots of close-up grizzly viewing

Oct 11
Great beginning. We had just arrived at HOC corner when a grizzly sub-adult came along the shore line totally oblivious to us. When he was about 30 metres away we made him aware of your presence. He stood still for a while, then sniffed us and slowly moved away.

Oct 12
Watched as Stripy, a fat and happy grizzly bear, moved along at H49. She slowly made her way up a side channel after some good viewing. Great viewing in the afternoon. We watched as a sub-adult fished energetically at H49. He ran into the water to grab fish. At one point he caught a fish and promptly dropped another fish in his mouth. From then on he was known as Two-Fish.

Oct 13
We watched a medium to large grizzly at HEC this morning. She moved between the two cars before moving off into the bush. We later saw her again. And then in the afternoon even better viewing as bear came right past our car.

Apple watching us

7 Oct
Saw a very wary black bear at H43. He was definitely on grizzly turf and seemed to know it as he moved off into the bush soon after we arrived.

8 Oct
Saw large adult grizzly bear just south of HEC feeding in logjam. She wandered a little and then crossed the road and disappeared into the bush. Then we saw Apple at the top of of a rise overlooking the road. We watched entranced as she scratched, peed, did a stiff-legged "cowboy" walk and then slowly came down towards us and crossed the road.

In the afternoon we saw the newly-christened Stripy Bear again. Then we watched a younger grizzly for about half an hour a little to the north. On the way back we once again had excellent views of Stripy Bear as she moved underneath us.

9 Oct
Again watched Stripy Bear (400lb female) as she fished extensively near HEC.

Cubs in the dusk

3 Oct
Saw black bears in a clearing to the left as we approached MSP. Then saw a grizzly mum with two cubs. Mum stood to stare and then turned and left with cubs before stopping for one final look. Just before it got dark we also saw a mum with three large cubs at MSP. I suspect from their size this was Tulip and her brood.

4 Oct
We watched Apple, one of our favourite grizzlies, feeding at head of river. She moved around a bit but we kept watching her, viewing for more than half an hour.

5 Oct
No bears today.

Grizzlies on the river

28 Sept
Grizzly south of HOC on a gravel bar as it was getting dark. We watched for a few minutes until he disappeared.

29 Sept
No bears today but lots of sign at MSP including prints, scat and fresh digging.

30 Sept
One fairly young brown black bear at WHC.

1 Oct
Great morning sighting of medium-sized grizzly bear at H48. Suspect it is Apple, a bear we have seen many times over previous years.

Four large grizzlies

24 Sept
Lots of bear sign and half-eaten fish today. Then, just as it was getting dark, Tulip, a grizzly bear we know well, appeared with her three cubs. They must be two-year-old but are so big that they almost match her for size. We sat quietly about 20 metres away.

25 Sept
Saw a dark, medium-sized grizzly about about two kilometres south of HOC early in the morning. The bear disappeared, re-appeared and then retreated into the brush. During the day we saw a brown black bear with a light muzzle on WHC on opposite side. Then a large black bear just south of MEC. Later that afternoon we spotted a large grizzly just north of HOC. Walked upstream on the far side. Large bear: estimated 500lbs. Also saw two beavers at HOC.

Sept 26
Lots of bald eagles during rafting today.

Beavers and black bears

20 Sept
Distant sighting of a grizzly bear. Also saw two beavers in the river near HCB and a porcupine.

21 Sept
Watched two or three year old black bear grazing for 10 minutes on lake road. At HC we watched large black bear emerge just before dusk.

22 Sept

No bears today.

Tracks... and one great viewing

15 Sept
Two or three year old black bear viewing at the head of the river.

16 Sept
Two or three year old black bear viewing at HC spawning channel.

17 Sept
One brown black bear in the morning. Multiple grizzly tracks under Duncan River bridge. Then some excellent viewing just as dusk was beginning to fall of a grizzly bear that fished energetically for salmon barely 25 metres from us.

Spring Bear Viewing

We had a good spring and saw dozens of bears but we haven't kept accurate records of bear sightings for May and June 2008. Promise to do better next year and offer a fuller account.

29 October 2007

Not often, even as someone lucky enough to live in grizzly country, do you get viewing like this. Simply amazing. As we sat watching in two cars - the guests and I in one - the biologists in the other - Apple emerged and began walking towards us along the road. Barely a few yards from she turned and headed up a steep slope onto a mossy bank. We sat and watched transfixed for the next hour or so as she snoozed and dozed, occasionally raising her head to look at us. After a long while she stood up again, pranced like a cowboy, rubbed her back on a low tree and then urinated. When she had decided we were still no threat to her she headed down the bank and within a few yards of our cars before heading back to the river. Simply riveting and a fine way to finish of a really good season.

28 October 2007

Two bears this morning for our new guests.

27 October 2007

Today was the first day of our annual grizzly bear summit, a gathering of bear biologists at our small ranch to discuss the future of the grizzly in BC and talk about the best way to help the bears prosper in the valley. Saw three grizzly bears on a shortish tour, including Apple, who gave us good viewing, and one bear in the distance at a full gallop.

26 October 2007

More lovely viewing today. We watched from a bridge over the river as a bear made his way right under us and out the other side, fishing as he walked along. For Martyn and Benita, who were leaving the following morning, it was a fine send-off.

25 October 2007

After a moderate day yesterday when our guests saw two bears, today was another stunner. Near the top of our river we watched for half an hour or so while a medium-sized bear (probably a female) made her way up the bank, slowly fishing as she went. Great views and we marveled again at the grizzly bear's amazing gait.

22 October 2007

Incredible experience today. Met a grizzly right in the middle of the road. When we first saw her - and it was definitely a her because we saw her pee - she was a few hundred feet off.

She then made her way slowly and purposefully towards our car. When she began to get too close I backed up. She advanced a little more. Not aggressively, just quietly, almost thoughtfully. I stopped backing up and she stopped too, turning first this way and then that way. Then she spun around this way and that. Then she showed us her bottom, had a little sniff at a traffic cone and then began advancing again.

Her behaviour was intriguing. A couple more times I backed off and then eventually decided that we had reversed enough and kept the car still. She came right up to the side of the car before moving away to fish, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Definitely one of the most memorable experiences we've had with bears since coming to the ranch.

21 October 2007

Good viewing today. As we were heading south a few miles from the ranch we saw a grizzly bear with a pale white stripe reaching down from her shoulders. We watched for several minutes as she gently fished the river. Then we looked up to see another bear almost right in front of the car. She also made her way down to the river and for a moment there was a little tension as the two bears sniffed each other.

We moved onto a bridge to watch the grizzlies and the second bear, seemingly oblivious to our presence, came right underneath within a couple of dozen feet of the car, before continuing her way down along the river. Nice view of her bottom as she slowly moved away from us.

20 October 2007

A remarkable morning for bear-viewing. We all watched a grizzly bear a few kilometres north of the ranch. Eventually the bear rounded a corner and disappeared from sight. Then within a few minutes we came across a mum with two cubs. She was a little skittish and ran into the bush. Another bear soon followed and then, as we returned to the ranch, we saw Apple again. She obliged us with a good 45 minutes of excellent viewing as she casually fished the river, moving first this way and then that. Above is a picture of Apple Jakob Dulisse, a friend and wildlife photographer, took a couple of weeks ago.

19 October 2007

Guests saw a mum with two cubs this afternoon, but they immediately turned on their heels and left. Then, after half an hour or so waiting, a different mum with two cubs. This time everyone watched for a while as they fished in the river. It was a little dark for photos but made for good viewing.

16 October 2007

Today was one of our slower days. We saw one grizzly in the river on the morning, but he didn't stay around very long. Then in the afternoon a better sighting - another grizzly quite near the place we saw the first one. This time we had a good viewing but the bear eventually moved around a corner and, although we waited for a while, did not reemerge.

15 October 2007

Set out this morning with our first US group in a while. The river was misty but the sun soon began to burn through. On the way back to the ranch before breakfast we ran into a decent-sized grizzly right on the road. We all watched her for a while and the guests in Gillian's car got some good photos.

In the evening the two guests with me - Duane and Terry - had a remarkable sight. As we stopped and waited two grizzlies emerged above the brush and began jawing with each other. It was too far for photos but nevertheless quite a spectacle.

Guests in Gillian's car also saw three grizzlies emerge from the bush. Fascinatingly they were all of significantly different sizes. A mum with two cubs from different years? Not sure really. They also saw another grizzly which turned and ran into the bush.

12 October 2007

One of the stranger days viewing. We came across a grizzly high up the river and came possibly closer than we have ever have before. She was feeding on the near bank behind a thick camouflage of grasses and although we saw little of her and didn't get too much in the way of photographs, we heard her and got the odd peak of her. On the way back to the ranch, just as it was getting dark, we passed half a dozen elk making their way upstream. It was a truly magical moment. We also saw a black bear and a large male moose and, of course, several bald eagles.

11 October 2007

So yesterday we drew a blank - or at least almost a blank - for the first time this season. Nothing in the morning and in the afternoon a black bear, but not a very long sighting. Today, however, things picked up with a vengeance. We caught up with Apple again on the river and another, slightly more shy, bear. Apple was her usual brazen self offering great viewing. At one stage she even approached to within about 30 feet of the trucks, but thought better of it and headed back to the river. This is just one of many magnificent shots of her we got.

07 October 2007

Today was a little less chaotic than yesterday but we still had good viewing. In the morning guests in Gillian's car saw a bear on the river and then in the afternoon each of our car saw a bear.

Alan and Caroline, who were with me, had a great view of a black bear, probably a two-year-old, with a salmon in his mouth. He stood and looked at us for a while before running away.

As we returned to the ranch we also had a great sighting of a mum with two cubs. Although it was almost dark we watched through binoculars as all three swam across the wide river.

Meanwhile Jakob, our wildlife photographer friend, was on the trail of Apple, the bear we had seen a number of times at the head of the river. He found her and took this great shot of her resting after a large meal.

6 October 2007

One of the most remarkable days of the season. In the morning we saw three bears, including a long viewing of the fine bear above, who wandered up river and passed within about 30 feet of our car before continuing on its way. Then in the afternoon between us we saw 11 different grizzly bears including two mums with three cubs each, a mum with two cubs. The first family bobbed up and down as they inspected us from behind some foliage. We also saw a smallish black bear. Today would probably have been a record-breaker (if we were counting.)

3 October 2007

A fine last day for our guests. After a lazy morning and a beautiful raft down the river (during which we came across a grizzly mum with two cubs) we set out for our pre-dinner foray. Saw one grizzly bear fleetingly, but then as we were making our way back to the ranch Jenny spotted another on the river bank. We stopped and watched as, unabashed, he slowly made his way down the river and out of sight. A nice end to one of our most successful packages yet.

2 October 2007

Another good day. The morning was a bit slow and only the group in my car saw bears and only fleetingly. But they were spectacular. As we pulled around a corner on a trail, a mum and three large cubs stood there. The mum went up on her back legs to get a good look at us. And then down. And then up again.

In the evening we also saw a cub. Then a few minutes later one of the best sightings yet. An adult grizzly slowly made its way up the river and within about 60 feet of the two cars before continuing, fishing as it went. The light was too low for good photography but perfect for viewing. Everyone was a little exhilarated as we returned to the ranch.

1 October 2007

Great start to this holiday for our guests. Barely had they arrived, when a grizzly made its way slowly into view in the river at the end of the garden. Masha, one of our shepherds, began to bark insistently but the bear was undeterred and made its way slowly down the far bank, taking a fish here and a fish there, until it crossed over and passed from view.

The next morning we also had a great sighting a little higher on the river. Watching from a high vantage point we saw a grizzly walking across a gravel bar. We headed down to the bank and called Gillian on the radio and as all six of us sat there watching the bear came right up the other side of the river, before turning its bottom to us and disappearing into the bush.

30 September 2007

We don't see a lot of wolves at the ranch but every now and then one pops up. Two weeks ago John, one of our guests, thought he saw one from the yard as it made its way up the other side of the river. Then this. The photograph was taken by Andrea from Graz in Austria as she left the ranch in early September. Despite its colourings, it is definitely a grey wolf. Beautiful.

27 September 2007

Just as we thought the afternoon might come to nothing, we came across this guy. Despite his weight he had clambered right to the top of a mountain ash and was stripping off the fruit. At one stage a branch snapped and he fell a few feet but recovered. Once he had finished he walked almost up to our truck before casually strolling off down the path.

26 September 2007

On our early morning run we spotted a grizzly at one of our favorite viewing spots. He swam across the river and, after a while, disappeared into the bush. There are now loads of tracks on many of the sandbanks around the ranch. Otherwise it was a fairly quiet morning although Jakob followed the grizzlies we have dubbed "Apple" back to the old orchard in what appears to be her regular daily run.

In the afternoon we chanced upon a mum with three cubs - all huge. But she was spooked by our arrival and, after a few seconds hesitation, ordered her cubs into the bush with her. Then just as our old friend, the cinnamon black, emerged a local man arrived on an ATV with a barking dog and scared the bear away. On the way back we saw another grizzly on a sandbank in the moonlight, quite an unusual and beautiful sight.

25 September 2007

Another great morning for bear-viewing. A few miles north of the ranch we spotted our first bear swimming across the river in the early-morning light. We watched through binoculars as, seemingly unaware of us, he fished a little here and there. After about 10 minutes he disappeared into the bush at the other side.

Then, a few miles further, came one of our best sightings yet. An adult grizzly, totally unconcerned about the presence of our vehicles, moved backwards and forwards across the river, sometimes coming as close as 50 feet to us. (See the picture above.)

Jakob, a friend and wildlife photographer, later tracked the same bear up to an old apple orchard where she (he actually saw her urinate - probably the only reliable way of telling a male from a female grizzly at a distance) climbed in to an apple tree (whoever said grizzlies can't climb trees?) and shook down the apples before gorging on them.

In the afternoon we watched on a small creek as a mum and three large grizzly cubs (certainly two-year-olds and possibly three-year-olds) rummaged around in the bush before emerging to fish. They were shy and kept their distance but through the light foliage we got some great views of them and they were huge. As we left Deborah, one of our guests, saw a fifth grizzly in clearing and David saw a coyote on the road.

21 September 2007

Best day so far this season! After a slow morning we set out in the late afternoon. Auspiciously we had barely driven five minutes when a black bear crossed the road in front of us. Ten minutes later we spotted the grizzly, again in the river and moving slowly towards the bank. For the next 20 minutes or so we sat mesmerized as he slowly moved towards us down the river bank, fishing as he came. With the engines off and everybody silent the grizzly approached slowly, slowly until he was only a little over about 40 feet away. Then he smelled or heard something and turned and ran into the bush. Photographically this was our best opportunity of the season. Both Jean-Pierre and I clicked away while others took photos and watched through the binoculars. Quite simply an amazing sight.

Later in the afternoon we saw deer and a young male adult moose who we slowly followed up the road for a couple of miles before he disappeared off into the forest. Then on the way back Kristin saw a small black bear cub. We celebrated that night with a glass each of Moet.

20 September 2007

This morning we set out early and were in position by 6.20am. After a little over half an hour the cinnamon black we had seen previously emerged and began to eat. Almost simultaneously a grizzly sow appeared with two large cubs in tow- probably the same family we had seen before. We watched happily for an hour or so.

In the afternoon we had a stroke of luck. Jean-Pierre, who forthwith became known as "Eagle Eyes", spotted a grizzly in the river at several hundred feet. We watched with binoculars as he moved onto a sandbank and around the corner. Repositioning the truck we then watched for 15 or 20 minutes as he slowly made his way towards us, oblivious to our presence. It was too dark for good photos, but a magnificent sight. On the way back to the ranch, Gillian spotted another grizzly on a sandbank. At first it ignored her truck, then it abruptly stood up, wheeled around and left.

19 September 2007

In the morning we saw no bears, but then as we headed out in the afternoon with Emy, Craig, Chelle, Jean-Pierre, Annie, Lynne and Donald our luck began to change. Annie was in the first car when she spotted a grizzly mum with tow cubs down on the river bank. For a while they watched and Jean-Pierre took some nice photos with his long lens.

Later on we returned to the spot where we had seen the cinnamon black a few days and he did not disappoint. Although the light was a little low for good photography we discreetly watched him fishing for half an hour or so.

17 September 2007

With John, Joyce, Trevor, Louise, Andrea and Egon, we returned once again to a spot where the fish were thick. This time a beautiful cinnamon black bear came out. For quite a while I thought he was a grizzly - the colour was right, the place was right - but the profile was unmistakably a black bear. Great chance to take photos.

14 September 2007

Returning to the hangout where we had seen the grizzly mum and cubs the night before, we watched again as she appeared, this time a little earlier in the evening. We watched for about 10 minutes and took lots of photos. Eventually the mum moved just a little too close to the trucks and began to appear a little agitated so we pulled away.

13 September 2007

Saw a 2/3 year old black bear on the road this morning. I think he has been in the area for several days, as we have seen him before eating on grasses and insects living in rotten tree stumps. Just after 7pm, we also saw three grizzlies at one of our favourite local hangouts. We watched them for a while - the two cubs appeared to be large two-year-olds or possibly even three-year-olds. Then just as we were returning to the ranch - adding the icing to the cake - we watched a small black cub, probably a yearling, walk across the road in front of our trucks.