Whales and Bears in the BC Landscape Archive

Bears & life in BC Coast Mountains

Whales and Bears in the BC Landscape

The Bella Coola Valley lies at the head of a 100km inlet in the BC Coast Mountains. Pacific Salmon run up the Bella Coola river to spawn, they also provide food for many animals and birds in the valley including Grizzly & black Bears, Bald eagles and kingfishers. Part of the valley is in the Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and is one of the best places in the Great Bear Rainforest to watch and photograph wildlife.

All of these images were taken in the Bella Coola valley where we stayed for the 2nd time at the excellent Suntree Guest Cottages . Stephen and Cheryl Waugh who run Suntree provide a peaceful base and invaluable local advice. Many thanks!

http://www.suntree.ca/

Killer whales and dolphins of Telegraph Cove BC

Whales and Bears in the BC Landscape

These images were taken while on a 5 day whale watch trip with Orcella Expeditions owned by Jim and Mary Borrowman. Jim Borrowman is internationally acknowledged as an expert on the whales and other marine mammals around Vancouver Island BC. Without Jim’s unrivalled knowledge and skill these images would not have been possible.

Humpbacks of Johnstone Strait Vancouver Island BC

Whales and Bears in the BC Landscape

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) visit the food rich Johnston Strait between British Columbia and Vancouver Island in the summer and autumn. Humpbacks have returned in increasing numbers over the last few seasons and can be reliably seen feeding and interacting near Telegraph Cove and Port McNeill.

These images were taken while on a 5 day whale watch trip with Orcella Expeditions owned by Jim and Mary Borrowman. Jim Borrowman is internationally acknowledged as an expert on the whales and other marine mammals around Vancouver Island BC. Without Jim’s unrivalled knowledge and skill these images would not have been possible.

Transient Orca and calf attacking an Auklet

Whales and Bears in the BC Landscape

Transient Killer whales or Orca are found off the coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, they eat other marine mammals. Unlike their fish eating cousins the resident Killer whales residents are only occasional visitors to the Johnston Strait they are fast and elusive.

These images were taken late afternoon after several family groups of Transient Orca we were watching had been interacting and hunting all day in the Johnston Strait. An adult female Orca caught an Auklet underwater, the family group then appeared to use the bird to teach their calves to hunt. These images are in sequence from just after the Auklet was caught to when the by then exhausted bird disappeared, this behaviour lasted at least 20 minutes.

The images were taken while on a 5 day whale watch trip with Orcella Expeditions owned by Jim and Mary Borrowman. Orcella operates out of Telegraph Cove Vancouver Island. Jim Borrowman is internationally acknowledged as an expert on the whales and other marine mammals around Vancouver Island. Without Jim’s unrivalled knowledge and skill these images would not have been possible.

Orca Johnstone Strait BC Canada

Whales and Bears in the BC Landscape

Resident Orca or Killer Whales feed on salmon in the Johnstone Strait between Vancouver Island and BC Canada every summer. The Johnstone strait is the best place in the world to watch and learn more about these animals and other marine mammals. All these photos were taken from boats operated by the best ethical whale watch company there is; Stubbs Island Whale Watching based at Telegraph cove.

Great Bear Rainforest BC Canada

Whales and Bears in the BC Landscape

The Bella Coola River flows through the western part of the Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park. In the late summer Grizzly Bears take advantage of the salmon run up the Bella Coola River. The bears feed on the salmon to put on as much weight as they can to see them through the long winter.

All the images on this page were taken in the Bella Coola valley in early September. Many thanks to Cheryl & Steve Waugh who run the excellent Suntree Guest Cottages. An idyllic place to stay, generous hosts and invaluable local knowledge, we will be back!