Quest for the Spirit Bear ~ Great Bear Rainforest
Departing from Bella Bella (Waglisla) join us for eight days to experience this spectacular region of British Columbia featuring hidden fjords and estuaries, coastal temperate rainforests, pristine watersheds, rugged shorelines, waterfalls and steep mountain terrain.
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This untamed wilderness is home to whales, bald eagles, grizzly bears, mountain goats, wolves, and at the centre of it all wild salmon spawns that produce food sources for all the inhabitants of this unique ecosystem. The river estuaries in the spring and fall are teaming with salmon who are migrating home to their birthplaces to spawn. |
The most unique and elusive animal living here is the Kermode Bear, a white colored bear which is a sub species of the black bear. Known to local residents as the "Spirit Bear", this unique creature is found only in this region of British Columbia, with numbers less than 400.
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Creating a feeding frenzy for the animals of the region. Wolves, grizzly's, black bears, eagles and many other animals and sea life rely on these spawning salmon as a food source. The forest floor is covered with salmon carcass' providing nutrients to this entire ecosystem. |
Known as the Great Bear Rainforest to Environmentalists this region is an amazing coastal temperate rainforest stretching nearly 500 kilometers and covering close to 7 million hectares along the west coast of Canada. More endangered than tropical rainforests, the Great Bear Rain Forest is the World's largest intact temperate rainforest, located in Beautiful British Columbia.
This rainforest provides home to many animals and birds. The marbled murrelet, 'threatened with extinction,' is dependent upon this temperate rainforest. Spending its' entire life at sea, with the exception of mating, the murrelet nests inland during mating season to build its nest in the tall branches of the ancient rainforest. Due to the vast isolation, sparse human settlement and diversity of the land, there are over 6500 species of invertebrates, 400 species of fish , 161 species of birds, and more than 25 species of marine mammals.
Evidence of the first nations culture can be found throughout the region. Fish traps, canoe skids, pertroglyphs, pictographs, bark-stripped trees and long house remains provide an in site to a civilization many thousands of years old. Join us with our professional bear guide as we search for the elusive Kermode Bear. As well as knowledge about the Kermode, our guide has an abundance of knowledge regarding black and grizzly bears as well. Let us guide you ~ share our knowledge ~ in comfort and safety from our 80' mothership vessel. Go ashore, see signs of bears all around, but in a safe and comfortable fashion.
After a day of exploring, return to the ship for hot showers and great west coast cuisine. Then it's time to relax and enjoy the camaraderie and savour the day's events, on deck or in the library ~ lounge. Enjoy spectacular sunsets anchored up in a quiet cove as we prepare for the
next day's exploring expedition. It will be an unforgettable, educational experience that satisfies a desire for adventure, exploration and discovery in an area inaccessible to most.
Unfortunately, much of this area is being threatened by clear-cut logging. As many people as possible should see this region to experience this untamed wilderness prior to the potential loss of this Intact Temperate Rainforest. Cruise with EXPLORE! CHARTERS and enjoy the beauty and splendor before it's too late!
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Bookings please call us Toll Free 1-888-649-6669 or