Within the 6.4 million hectares of land dedicated as the Great Bear Rainforest, a maze of small waterways winds amongst many small islands. We had the opportunity to explore this area, specifically a place called the Sue Channel Provincial Park. As we set off on Zodiac tours in search of beautiful views and possibly wildlife, boats full of guests were greeted from afar by the spouts of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) as they passed through the channel on their travels. The steep, rocky walls that make up the coastline made the search for animals more difficult, but as the tide dropped, small inlets and meadows presented themselves as the perfect spots to catch a rare glimpse of coastal land mammals and other wildlife. For a very brief moment, several guests caught a glimpse of an American black bear (Ursus americanus) foraging on sedges and berries before it darted back into the tree line. Throughout the morning, the search continued. Guests in Zodiacs were treated to incredible views of the peaceful, protected nature around them. The adventure continued as we transited back to Prince Rupert while we scanned the coastlines and looked for humpback whales. We were even treated to a serendipitous, singular breach from one charismatic whale in the distance. The night ended with one last chance to take advantage of the area’s remote nature. We stargazed from the bow in the pitch black of this undeveloped area.
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