Orcas, Otters and Grizzlies

 Orcas, Otters & Grizzlies

In The Land Of The Kwakuitl
 

Leader: Tony Greenfield

British Columbia is world renowned for its natural environment, its biological diversity and its wildlife viewing opportunities. The northern end of Vancouver Island at the interface of rainforest clad mountains and a fertile marine ecosystem is a place, by happy coincidence, where 3 of North America’s most charismatic mammal species thrive. The Grizzly Bear is at the top of the terrestrial food chain and the Orca, or Killer Whale, occupies a similar situation in the marine ecosystem. Sea Otters are famously charismatic (cute) and are notable for being a highly successful recent reintroduction to BC waters after being extirpated from their traditional range by the fur industry.

The tour departs from Vancouver and proceeds to Port McNeill with interesting stops along the way. On the morning of day 2 we will join a whale watching tour from Telegraph Cove. While the orcas will be the highlight of the cruise, we expect to see other marine mammals such as porpoises, dolphins, other whales, seals and sea lions. A variety of marine/pelagic bird species should be seen including Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet and Rhinocerous Auklet, with a good chance for pelagic species such as Parasitic Jaeger, Ancient Murrelet, Cassin’s Auklet, Sooty Shearwater, Fork-tailed Storm Petrel and Red-necked Phalarope. In the afternoon we will take the ferry to Alert Bay on Malcolm Island where we will visit the world’s tallest totem pole and the famed U’mista Cultural Centre. The U’mista Centre houses one of the finest collections of carved masks from the Potlatch Ceremony of the Kwakwaka’wakw and was repatriated to the Centre by the National Museums Corporation in 1980.

On day 3 we will travel the short distance to Zeballos, at the head of a long inlet on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Here we will take a cruise to observe the rafts of Sea Otters which have successfully recolonized this area in recent years. In the afternoon we drive to Campbell River.

On day 4 we spend all day cruising into spectacular Bute Inlet to visit Orford River where we expect to watch some of the 40 resident Grizzly Bears feeding on the spawning salmon from the various viewing platforms situated along this wilderness river. The day will highlight the majestic Grizzly Bear but we hope to see other marine and terrestrial mammals, along with Bald Eagles. Night in Campbell River.

On the final day we return to Vancouver.

Cost: $ 1760 (+HST) CAD  (double occupancy) covers all transportation, accommodation and entry fees.
Does not include meals, except that most of our hotels provide a complimentary breakfast.

Tour begins and end in Vancouver.

For more information or to reserve your space:

click here to email

phone: 604 885-5539

Box 319,  Sechelt, British Columbia, V0N 3A0, Canada

Updated March 30, 2010