Words by Maddie Lemke Whale watching has gained popularity as a captivating recreational activity, allowing people to observe these majestic marine mammals in their natural environment. Observing wildlife can have many positive impacts, but if not done responsibly, it may do more harm than good. In this blogpost we want to give an overview of positive and negative impacts of whale watching and help you… Read more »
Words and Photos by Zoe Hasenfratz Picture this, you find yourself on a whale-watching tour. You are bobbing about on the water, having just discovered several humpback whales. Suddenly, you start to witness some acrobatic behavior: pectoral fins waving back and forth in the air, tails slapping the surface, and breaching. As you watch the whales propel themselves out of the water in what nearly… Read more »
Written by photographer and guest blogger Kristian Gillies. Raindrops pelt the windscreen, their staccato rhythm creating a familiar percussion that welcomes the changing of seasons. The boat cuts through the water below, a symphony of rich green hues swirling in its wake. Inside the cabin, the mingling scent of sea salt tangles with the chatter of fellow adventurers. Each sentence carries a subtle undercurrent of… Read more »
Whales are not only magical creatures, but also play a vital role in the health of our planet. As we struggle with the effects of climate change, it is crucial to understand the significant contributions whales make in mitigating its impact. One such fascinating phenomenon is the “whale pump”, a process that showcases how (baleen) whales help sequester carbon dioxide and maintain a healthy ecosystem…. Read more »
Grizzly Bears are one of the most intelligent animals in the world. They have distinct behaviors that set them apart from other bears and can be found near or in rivers searching for salmon. September 1st marks the official start of our Grizzly Bear tours for 2020! This season we have partnered with Klahoose Coastal Adventures to view bears at the Klite River in… Read more »
Living in Campbell River has a number of different perks – the biggest one is that we don’t have to travel very far to see different types of wildlife! We’re so lucky to be surrounded by greenery that animals are attracted to! It’s not uncommon for locals to have a black bear or two in their backyard when their pear and apple… Read more »
Dolphins bring out a child-like wonder in anyone that is lucky enough to see them out in the wild! In our area, we have Pacific White-Sided Dolphins. They are playful, acrobatic mammals and can be the highlight of any tour! Here are some facts that you may not know about them: 1. There is currently no population estimate for how many Pacific White-Sided Dolphins… Read more »
We have the pleasure of seeing a number of different marine mammals on our tours. While we live in an area that has an abundance of Humpback Whale and Transient Orca sightings, we also get to see a vast number of sea lions and seals! One specific species that we encounter often are Steller Sea Lions. 1. Steller sea lions are golden brown… Read more »
Porpoise are small-toothed whales that are closely related to dolphins. They can be differentiated by their teeth, which are spade-shaped opposed to cone-shaped, their dorsal fins, which are triangular, and their beaks, which are less elongated. While there are said to be 32 different dolphin species in the world, there are only 6 different types of porpoises! In the Campbell River area, we are… Read more »
Grizzlies are magnificent animals and if you have the opportunity to see them in the wild, you should definitely take it. You’ll be talking about it for years to come! The most common question we get regarding the Grizzly Bear Tour is, “when is the best time to go?”. Typically, we are able to see Grizzlies along the river systems from the middle of August until the… Read more »
