British Columbia's Coast offers travellers opportunities to see wildlife in its true habitat. We have spent thrilling times watching a variety of whales and marine mammals from our boat and kayaks. The amazing and speedy Dall porpoises will bow ride and swim past at amazing speeds, their surfacing causing rooster tail splashes. Quiet and shy Harbour porpoises can be seen from the boat as crescent shaped surfacings. The playful and acrobatic Pacific White-sided Dolphin are often encountered and enjoyed, often in a profound "connection" between species.

MAMMALS

Inquisitive Minke whales delight us by approaching the boat, spyhopping and diving under the boat only to reappear on the other side. We also see Humpback Whales and many pods of Orcas (aka Killer Whales). On yearly cruises we see whales blowing, bubblefeeding, breaching. We have often waited, whispered and prepared our cameras for that brief thrill of seeing something so wonderful so near. Whale watching is always exciting.

Stellar Sea Lions and Harbour Seals are often seen basking on rocks or swimming and feeding around kelp beds. The Stellar Sea Lions are very large with the lighter coloured male often weighing up to 2,200 pounds (1000 kg.). Their heads are flatter than the Harbour Seals and they sport a distinctly furry coat. They show little fear as we pass by affording us excellent views of these vocal and magnificent creatures. Harbour seals are considerably smaller and sport beautiful slick mottled coats. Curious but shy, they may quietly survey travellers from afar, bobbing up from below the water's surface or they may suddenly dive into the water in a noisy and ungainly rush. Once in the water they are svelte, acrobatic swimmers capable of great speed and agility. Rookeries of Stellar Sea Lions and harbour seals can be seen all along the coast. As with whales is important to keep a respectful distance away.

We have often enjoyed the noisy and playful River Otter communities near our anchorages. These sociable and lively creatures are voracious fish hunters and are found all along the coast. From first-hand experience, we can tell you it is much more wonderful to see them in a wilderness situation than to have them make a home under your living room or on your boat during the winter.

Among the unique and rare species that inhabit this area, the White Kermode or Spirit Bear stands as a beacon for the incredible bio-diversity which inhabits this part of the Pacific Coast. This blond Black Bear has captured the intense interest of biologists, environmentalists, photographers and naturalists. Black "Grey Wolves" have also been seen in the same location. Though the Black Bear and Grey Wolf are common in these coastal forests, the white Spirit Bear has developed in isolation of a region now threatened by human industry.

Grizzly Bears can be seen on the coast particularly in river valleys in the fjords and long inlets of the mainland. They are rarely spotted on the shores of the outer coast. Spawning salmon lure many species down to the water's edge during the fall, which is a great time for wildlife viewing but problematical for the coastal cruiser. Storm fronts begin to multiply in numbers and intensity after August 15th on the north coast and somewhat later further down the coast. These heavy rain and wind storms are important as they fill the rivers and allow the annual spawn to begin. Wildlife of all sorts can be seen gorging on the spawning salmon and their subsequent carcasses. The spawn is an important time for the bears who need to fatten up before hibernation. The bears and other creatures often bring their catches up the beach and into the forest to eat in privacy. The remains provide important nutrients for plants and other forest dwellers. The river basin is a rich habitat for coastal flora and fauna. We must continue to make an effort to protect them.

The bear and wolf are common here, but they shy away from human contact. Signs of their proximity have made us sing their praises aloud as we have hiked through their territory. A healthy respect and understanding of behavior is always a good idea. Family pets need to be carefully monitored. Many a boat cat has had serious if not fatal altercations with an eagle and dogs can get into a pile of trouble with bigger creatures. Mother animals can become ferocious if their offspring are considered threatened. When it comes to smaller creatures, do not let their "cuteness" fool you. A threatened animal is a powerhouse.

 Other Mammals gracing the forests, cliffs and shoreline along our travelled path are Mountain Goats, marmots, Mink, beavers, porcupines and Black-tailed Deer. We have spotted the Black-tailed deer at the water's edge nibbling sea lettuce at low tide. Mink can be seen darting in between rocks near shore. We have watched dramatic techniques on the part of a mother mink to gain the attention of a Bald Eagle intent on bagging one of her offspring for lunch. Mountain Goats can be seen in some of the fjords north of Bella Bella. Their ability to scale the near vertical cliffs is quite amazing. The Vancouver Island Marmot ia highly endangered and the possibility of an extinction in the near future is a sad reality.

BIRDS

Abundant Migratory and resident species of birds can be seen all along this coast. Birds scoot away from the approaching boats by ducking under the water or in a flurry of sound, fly off to land a short way from us. Murres, marbled murrelets, Scoters, gulls, Grebes and various ducks all add their distinctive calls and behaviors to the mix. Along the shoreline we have seen Tufted Puffins, Great Blue Herons, stately Bald Eagles, Sandhill Cranes, Osprey, Kingfishers, owls, woodpeckers and Stellar Jays. Of course there is also the important Raven, always watching and informing us of our trespasses. There are over 200 species of birds to be seen our coast; a bird watchers paradise.

FISH

There are five species of Salmon prized for their flesh by coastal mammals and humans. Rock fishes, though not as sought after by sport fishers, are colourful examples of the diversity of animal life seen along this coast. Rockfish come in a rainbow of colours, some mottled some striped. Lingcod, Halibut and sole are found here as well. Lingcod can grow to six feet in length over a lifespan of thirty-five years and can weigh up to eighty pounds. Pacific Halibut who prefer the sandy ocean bottom can attain 400 pounds in weight. Other members of this family, sole and flounder are also common to these waters. Some strange and fascinating fish we see are, ratfish, dogfish and a variety of sculpin. Favourite species include the pipefish, a relative of the seahorse and the Spiny Lumpsucker, a small, awkwardly designed fish sure to make one laugh. The ferocious-looking but often misunderstood Wolf Eel aka "Sea Puppy" is a favourite with divers.

TIDAL ZONE CREATURES

The coastline of British Columbia is a wonderful place to beachcomb, peer into tidepools and generally observe from a scenic vantage point. This far North, the tidal range between high and low tide may be as much as 16 feet during the Summer. At low tide, many animals and plants are exposed allowing close inspection of a fascinating and complex ecosystems divided by biologists into five tidal zones; from those living near spray to those living in tidepools when the water is at its lowest.

Clams, oysters, abalone, scallops and mussels all well known to seafood enthusiasts grow in abundance in B.C. coastal waters. Unfortunately, B.C. Fisheries has posted Red-Tide or Paralytic shellfish poisoning closures over much of the Central and North Coast areas. Captain Vancouver's expedition log in 1793 has an account of crew members being affected by these toxins. Fortunately only one died and is buried at Carter's Bay in the Fjordland area.

Beachcombing often yields a variety of seashells found during an expedition to shore. We only keep empty shells and leave alive and inhabited ones in their place. Many small snail type shells are homes to hermit crabs who scuttle away as we approach. As young crabs, they may find a periwinkle shell just right but will change homes several times as they outgrow each abode. This moving business is quick as their abdomens are very soft and vulnerable. Small multicoloured crabs wearing their more traditional outside armour can be found by the thousands under rocks. Gunnels, small eel-like fish, small sculpins and other small fish can be found in tidepools darting amongst bits of seaweed. By far the most colourful of the tidal creatures are the sea anenomes and seastars; purples, pinks, brown, blues, reds, oranges, whites, greens and yellows and versions in between.

There are hundreds of wondrous animals and plants along the shore. Identification can be made easier through the use of some excellent books. We often use Rickett"s classic: "Between Pacific Tides" and have found "Pacific Northwest Sea Creatures" by Dan H. McLachlan. to be very useful. We also use a number of other field guides to help solve the weird-creature-of-the-day puzzles which often arise after an excursion ashore.