British Columbia wildlife draws attention for its wide range of mammals, as documented in the List of Mammals of British Columbia, and for guided viewing opportunities across the province.
The marine corridor around Vancouver Island offers whale watching and kayaking tours, with operators such as Eagle Wing Tours and Wildheart Adventures offering trips to see minke, orca, humpback and grey whales. Johnstone Strait is highlighted as a premier orca area, where about 250 resident orcas are reported to inhabit the waters between northern Vancouver Island and the mainland.
On land, the province supports large carnivores and ungulates listed in the mammal inventory, including grizzly and black bears, cougar, moose, elk and caribou, plus smaller species such as the Vancouver Island marmot, which the list identifies as critically endangered, and the sea otter, listed as endangered.
Tourism operators and lodges aim to combine wildlife viewing with local culture and comfort. Great Bear Lodge and Spirit Bear Lodge in the Great Bear Rainforest offer grizzly and rare spirit bear viewing, the latter noting there are fewer than 400 spirit bears globally. Sonora Resort promotes grizzly excursions and marine watching, while Campbell Hills Guest Ranch near Kamloops offers horseback wildlife viewing for moose, deer, bald eagles and bears.
Wildlife Safety And Park Programs
Park and campground guidance stresses avoiding attraction of wildlife, warning that feeding animals increases danger and can lead to site closures. Officials advise never feeding wild animals, noting the maxim a fed bear becomes a dead bear, and require secure storage of all attractants when away or sleeping.
Common attractants identified include food, garbage, coolers, dishes, pet food, barbecues, scented toiletries, fuel containers and clothes worn during cooking. Campers are instructed to secure attractants in locked vehicles, bear-proof canisters, bear-resistant lockers or use properly constructed food hangs in backcountry settings, and to dispose of waste in designated receptacles or pack it out.
The BC Wildlife Park provides another option for guaranteed land-animal sightings and public education. The park houses roughly 40 animal species, including spirit bear, grizzly and black bears, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, cougar, lynx, elk, Arctic wolf and moose. The park also partnered with Aspect Film Works to produce short animal stories that show resident animals’ lives and explain how humans can better coexist with wildlife.
