Encountering the Grizzly on Bear Watching Holidays in Canada

For the ultimate in bear watching holidays, Canada is a superb destination. Home to the magnificent Grizzly Bears, Canada also offers those on bear watching holidays the chance to see many other species of wildlife too.

Introducing the Grizzly Bear

This North American sub-species of the Brown Bear is an awesome creature, both in stature and in grace. Despite being naturally solitary mammals, the Grizzly Bears can be observed from special hides set up in forested areas far from any human disturbance. It is at these hides that visitors on dedicated bear watching holidays spend several hours in anticipation of catching sight of the bears. In Canada, the most dramatic gatherings of Grizzly Bears are seen around the prime fishing spots, when the salmon are swimming upstream to spawn. The bears fish for salmon in a frenzy as they stock up on the much-needed nutrition for getting them through the winter months. In the winter they dig dens for hibernation, and it is during this rest period that females give birth, often to more than one cub.

It is interesting to note that while these animals are at the top of the food chain – with no predators except man - they sustain their power and strength by eating a diet that consists mainly of nuts, berries, leaves and other fruits. Occasionally a rodent or a moose will be eaten but not on a daily basis.

Other Wildlife

For those on bear watching holidays, the sight of Grizzly Bears in the wild can be a once in a lifetime experience. They generally have brown fur, which is usually tipped with white 'grizzles' - the feature that originally gave the sub-species its name. Most wildlife holidays to Canada will combine bear watching with the opportunity to see other birds and animals as well, such as the Grey Whales, Orca and Pacific Dolphins off the coast of Vancouver Island, Sea Otters in the northwest of the island, and the American Dipper and Double-crested Cormorant, along with many other seabirds. There will be plenty of opportunity for photographs and you may even have the chance to snap the bears as they fish for salmon in the waters close to the hides. When they fish, Bald Eagles are often seen overhead watching for any scraps of salmon, and they make for a spectacular sight in their own right.

If you book your wildlife holiday with a reputable travel company, the tour will be accompanied by an expert naturalist, offering you the chance to ask questions and learn about the wildlife, ecosystems and the habitats of the different species.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you’re looking for bear watching holidays, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to polar expeditions and tours to other spectacular regions on Earth.

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