Canada Bear Watching: Where and How to See Wild Bears in British Columbia

A Wildlife Paradise

For any wildlife-watching aficionado heading to Canada, bear watching is an absolute must.

British Columbia is any nature enthusiasts dream, offering a cornucopia of wildlife, from caribou and cougars, to whales and wolves (special shout out to “moose” which I couldn’t shoehorn into my alliteration). 

But really, the jewel in Canada’s fauna-based crown, has to be the mighty bear.

Canada Bear Watching Can Be Pricey…But It Doesn’t Have to Be

Should you find yourself in Canada, bear watching opportunities are a-plenty.

The problem is, many of these experiences come with a hefty price tag, or even a lengthy time commitment, that most of us just don’t have. 

But fear not! There are ways to dodge the money pit.

The Most Important Bit.

In our excitement, it can be really easy to forget that these are dangerous wild animals. Carrying bear spray and/or a bear bell is always good practice.

Keep your distance.

DO NOT feed the bears. It only encourages them to come closer to humans. When they did, they can get aggressive. A bear that poses a threat to humans, could have to be put down.

Show them love by letting them be wild.

What Can I Expect to See?

Before we crack on with examining those once in a lifetime experiences, I’m hoping you’ll indulge me a little. I think it’s worth clarifying what you might see.

The country as a whole plays host to grizzly, black and polar bears. If you are really lucky, you could even spot a rare spirit bear, a beautiful cream-colour subspecies of black bear.

British Columbia is home to all but the polar bear. These are best spotted in Manitoba. I’m afraid this is not my expertise (though I wish it was). However, this article from Canadian Affair will give you an in depth idea of how to pursue that dream.

Whilst grizzly bears are the larger species, black bears are your most likely sighting. On the whole they share the same habitats, though. So it’s certainly possible to see both!

Black Bears

Deceptively small and remarkably common, black bears are probably your best bet for an ursine sighting in Canada.

With their diet constituting mainly of grasses, roots, berries and insects, these bears spend most of their time foraging for a bit of grub. Their versatile tastes mean they can live pretty much anywhere. They can commonly be found rummaging around coastlines, forests and even gardens.

It’s worth noting that all black bears are black. There are brown variants too!

Grizzly Bears

Sadly, grizzly bears are now considered to be threatened. About 26,000 remain in Canada, with more than half of those occupying British Columbia, so you’re in the right place!

Grizzlys will vary their diet between plants and animals. They’ll even kill take on some of the larger mammals like caribou!

Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to witness one giving itself a good scratch on a tree!

Again, their colour varies somewhat, but they tend to be darker (and larger) closer to the coast.

Hibernation Consideration

Something to bear (get it? Bear?) in mind as you are planning your trip, is that bears hibernate. 

If you’re headed to Canada for bear watching, try and time it for the warmer months. Sightings are unlikely between October and April.

Best Places in Canada for Bear Watching…For Every Budget!

So let’s get to it: how are you going to get your Canada bear watching fix in British Columbia?

Splash The Cash: Premium Canada Bear Watching Experiences

If you’re ready to splurge on this experience then you are in for a TREAT.

You’ll need to take yourself for the adventure of a lifetime to the Great Bear Rainforest.

However, this will take a bit of forward planning. Roads won’t take you there, so you can’t just rock up and hope for the best. 

There are a variety of cruises that will take you to the area, but one of the best options is to book a stay with one of the lodges. Perhaps most famous among them, is Knight’s Inlet Lodge. The Great Bear Lodge is another option.

Both of these will provide you with transport, food and a multi-day guided itinerary to maximise your sightings.

It’s not cheap but you will be richly rewarded. Spot grizzly bears, whales, otters and more on your visit. Perhaps you’ll even spot that elusive spirit bear! It’s truly a wildlife watcher’s dream.

Be sure to let us know in the comments if you go so that we can all be very jealous!

Mid Tier Bear Watching

If the Great Bear Rainforest dream feels a little out of reach, don’t panic! There are other options!

For a more attainably priced experience, head to Tofino on Vancouver Island.

You’ll probably need to allocate a day to travel from Vancouver, taking a ferry to Nanaimo and then a drive across the island. The driving is pretty easy and the scenery is lovely. It’s definitely not a wasted day.

Tofino is a lovely, friendly coastal town worth a visit in its own right. There are plenty of accommodation options, but I would recommend the Ecolodge. Bathrooms are shared but it’s clean, welcoming and budget-friendly.

From here you can hop on any one of a number of boat tours. We used Adventure Tofino who I would definitely recommend. You have a very high chance of spotting black bears foraging on the shore. An experience you’ll never forget.

We were spotted golden eagles and were even lucky enough to be zoomed out to sea to spot an orca on our trip. You never know what you might see!

Save the Pennies…Take a Chance!

There’s no getting around the fact that whichever way you cut it, jumping on a dedicated tour is never going to suit every wallet.

The good news? You don’t actually need one.

We got our best bear sighting whilst taking a stroll near a petrol station in the middle of nowhere.

You can increase your chances or seeing one by taking a trip to Jasper National Park where they are pretty common. You might just be lucky enough to see one on the side of the road!

And That’s That!

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Canada, bear watching should definitely find a spot on your itinerary.

Like any wild animal, there’s no guarantees, but with some time and patience, your chances are great.

And if bears don’t do it for you, there are plenty of other options! Why not check out our guide to swimming with sharks in the Maldives?

Good luck!