Summer Wildlife

During summer some bears are still feeding in the estuary as well as the vegetation along the lower river. They are also feeding heavily on berries and skunk cabbage at this time. These plants are common and widely distributed so we tend to have to look farther afield to find bears, which are no longer concentrated near the rich estuary. Additionally the total numbers of individual bears seen is lower. During summer we continue to use mostly boats for our bear watching excursions.

Black bears are seen more often during summer season when the number of grizzlies is less.

Summer can be a great time to see the new life of the Great Bear Rainforest. We will often see curious seal pups ignoring their mother’s signal that its time to move on, or common mergansers with a dozen or more ducklings trailing behind. Last year both tree swallows and barn swallows nested right on the lodge. During later summer the wolves tend to become more vocal as the pack moves away from the den site.

Grey and humpback whales arrive in the area sometime in July. If we are able to include a boat ride for your transportation from Port Hardy to the lodge, we may well see these whales as well as other marine mammals.

This is our best weather season often with the water warm enough for swimming right from the lodge! For the courageous of heart, that is.

Then sometime in late July or early August, we spot a handful of coho salmon in the river. They are too fast and elusive for the bears. But with the passing days they continue to trickle in. In August bears begin to take notice though still few if any are caught. With a good rain in late August chum salmon arrive ready to spawn. That marks the beginning of fall and the bear’s feeding frenzy.


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