Khutzeymateen, B.C.
Khutzeymateen Provincial Park, also known as Khutzeymateen/K’tzim-a-deen Grizzly Sanctuary, is a Canadian provincial park on the northern coast of the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia. Visitor use is not encouraged. However, a limited amount of controlled viewing is allowed under permit. The hunting of grizzly bear is prohibited and hunting of other wildlife is restricted to areas above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) elevation. Established August 1994, 45 kilometres (28 mi) northeast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the park incorporates the basin of the Khutzeymateen River and protects the North Coast region's Grizzly Bear population by preserving a part of the ecosystem in which they live.
Grizzly Bear swimming in The Estuary. The ultimate purpose of The Khutzeymateen is to protect the north coast grizzly bear by the ecosystems in which they live.
Mom Grizzly checking the area. She has two cubs and as the sedge grass is so high, she has to stand up.
Chin Up ! In the Estuary, the Grizzlies swim from one patch of sedge grass to another. They can only do this at high tide.
Grizzly Mom checking us out. She has two cubs that are eating away at the rich sedge grass.
Golden Grizzly sunning himself on a river bank. This photo was chosen to represent British Columbia on a coin by The Canadian Mint to celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday.
The Royal Canadian Mint chose my photo to be minted to represent British Columbia in the 2017 Celebration of Canada's 150th Birthday.
Mom Grizzly with two COY (Cub of the year). These cubs were born late (normally born in January) as they are quite tiny.
Shake It Up Baby ! Grizzly in the rain shaking off the excess water.
Early morning entering The Estuary of The Khutzeymateen.
The Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge with Jaime and Megan as our hosts and guides. We leave twice a day by boat to view Grizzlies and other wildlife. It is located just south of the Alaska panhandle and located within Canada's only grizzly bear protected area.
It is mating season in The Khutzeymateen and these two Grizzlies are not quite old enough to mate with a female, but their testosterone is at a high level. There is a female close by and they fight, but it is more a practice for when they are older.
Great way to travel in The Khutzeymateen. A cover to protect us from the rain and a powerful 250 hp motor.
Mom Grizzly with her second year triplets. It shows that she is a wonderful Mom to have three Cubs in their second year. 50% of cubs do not make it through their first year.
'Tip Toe Through The Lupins' ! Male Grizzly slowly making his way through the sedge grass, eating as he goes.
This Sow Grizzly almost looks human ! Holding a single shoot of grass, she is looking around as she has two young cubs.
Just around the corner is The Estuary. Tide is high and we are able to enter. Tides average about 6 meters (18 feet) in the Estuary and we are unable to reach the Estuary by water at low tide.
Golden Grizzly pondering the day on a patch of sedge grass in The Estuary.
Exit Point. This is the point at the entrance and exit of The Estuary in The Khutzeymateen. Often a mirror image !
Two Grizzly bears facing off during mating season. Testosterone is running high.
Asleep in the sun. This male Grizzly would wake up, look at us ... then go back to sleep. A most beautiful bear.
Flying in to The Khutzeymateen in the fog is a trial for our pilot. These bush pilots are the best... and The Beaver is one of the best planes ever built (in my opinion!)
Mom Grizzly with two Cubs of the Year. Due to fog and high sedge grass, she has to stand to check for danger. Grizzlies see in colour and have good vision similar to humans.
Mom Grizzly nursing her second year Cubs. Triplets no less. Not all that common to see.
Size Matter ! These male Grizzlies are four years and five years old. Not quite old enough to attract a female Grizzly to mate with. That does not stop them from fighting. The younger bear was more aggressive.
Morning mist
Grizzly Bear jumping off the bank into The Khutzeymateen River hoping to snag a spawning Salmon.
Seagull about to land in The Khutzeymateen River.
This practice is very common with two males during mating season. Showing off the size of their mouths.
This large Grizzly came out of nowhere ! He was in the dark bush and came out in to the light. He was so close, I could not get all of him in the frame.
A Grizzly swimming very low in The Estuary of The Khutzeymateen. So low he is blowing bubbles !
The average breeding age for female g Grizzlies is 4.5 years. Males reach sexual maturity at roughly the same age as their female counterparts. Even though males are capable of breeding at three or four years of age, they rarely have the opportunity to do so because of intense competition from older, bigger males