Grizzly Families

Mid-May to mid-July are the most consistent times to see the bears, as they are primarily down foraging around the beaches. This time of year it is not unusual to see ten to fifteen bears per trip. This is also the best time to see cubs! These fuzzy little balls of fur will melt almost anyone's heart, but please resist the urge to jump out of the boat and pick one up; the mothers are VERY protective!

On the tour, you may witness almost any kind of bear behaviour. Foraging for food, fishing in the river, sleeping, mothers nursing their cubs, cubs rough-housing, and in June they begin to court. In years of very abundant salmon runs, you can even see them congregating in groups, almost like a family picnic. This is normally unusual for grizzlies; competition over food can be fierce, as food means survival.