Day 2: Black Bear Adventure
If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today, you'd better go in disguise
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic
Day 2, 6:00 am: cold, wet and raining in Tofino harbour. Our guide Liam, handed me a pair of ski goggles as we left the dock. We had a 20-minute ride in an open zodiac before we accessed the inlets where we “might” find bears. I was in the bow and never so grateful for a pair of ski goggles in June. My husband, the good sport, was in the stern. The thought bubble above his head read “What has she got me into now?”
The misery of the rain was forgotten when we spotted a large male black bear with a mouthful of crab in the first inlet. Picnic indeed, he was feasting on the shellfish he uncovered along the shore.
It was Bear Day at Low Tide. We discovered two more bears in the next cove. Bears are solitary animals and usually do not share space. Liam explained these two were likely adolescent siblings. Cubs are weaned about six to eight months of age and spend their second winter with their mother in hibernation. During their second spring they separate from their mother and strike out on their own. These young bears likely tolerated each other because they were familiar. Eventually they each set out in opposite directions.
My enchantment with the bears overcame my frustration with the darkness of the morning. For the photographers out there, I had my ISO cranked up to 10,000 which meant my images would be/are grainy. I confess to flashes of dreaming about those (very expensive) low light telephoto lenses. However, my fascination with how the bears rolled the rocks away to find their food won out. It was such a privilege to be allowed to witness these beautiful animals in their natural setting.
We didn’t have to go far for our final thrill of the morning, a mama bear with two cubs. More bears! Even the rain seemed to let up for each photo encounter. I loved the contrast of the back fur against the soft green algae on the rocks. I was totally smitten with the cubs. Look at the sole of that little bear paw!
We watched at a respectful distance as the mother bear sniffed out the crabs and enjoyed her breakfast. The cubs followed her chewing on any bits left behind, leaning how to fish by example.
What a morning, six bears, all ages and stages. I pulled on the ski goggles for the return trip with a full heart, feeling blessed and grateful.
There’s hope for the protection of these bears and their habitat. This exciting news was released while we were in Tofino.
Vancouver Island will benefit from more than 76,000 hectares of new conservation areas in Clayoquot Sound.
In partnership with Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, 10 new conservancies are being established to support reconciliation, conservation of old-growth forests and healthy ecosystems, as well as provide clarity on areas that will continue to be managed for forestry to support timber supply. Following overwhelming support during public consultation, this process now stands as an example of moving forward with the full involvement of First Nations in implementing old-growth strategies and conserving ecosystem health and biodiversity.
Approximately 76,000 hectares of Crown land will be permanently protected, including old forests, habitat for several endangered and threatened species, and lands adjacent to existing protected areas, such as Strathcona Park.
Effective June 26, 2024, these new conservancies follow the old-growth deferral implemented in 2020, and are the next step for land and forest management in Clayoquot Sound, in alignment with the First Nations’ land-use visions. BC Government News – June 18th, 2024