our west coast wildlife ...
The shoreline of Vancouver Island is generously populated with marine animals, birds, plants and inter-tidal life. People from all over the world visit us to enjoy the natural wonders of this area. There are too many species to list but here are a few of our common locals favorites...

whales & dolphins...
Few experiences compare to witnessing a 5,000-kg (12,000-lb) Orca arcing out of the water and landing with a splash that can be heard for several kilometres. No wonder then, that whale watching has become such a popular activity on Vancouver Island. About eighty Orcas (Killer Whales) live in the waters off the southern island coastline year-round. The best time to see whales is between May and October, when they come close to shore in pursuit of salmon, their staple food. Grey Whales traverse these waters in great numbers during their annual migration between March and October.

seals, sea-lions & otters...
Dwelling mostly in the water but can sometimes be spotted 'sunning' themselves on rocky outcroppings, we do see them regularly on most of our trips. Harbor seals are fairly common and are often seen on rocks and in coves or following behind your kayak in curiosity. The population is healthy and continues to flourish. The California Sea Lion is much larger than its cousin the seal, larger yet and lighter in color is the Stellar Sea Lion. Otters have also been making a good 'come back' in these areas and can often be seen swimming and playing in and along river and creek mouths.

eagle, osprey, great blue heron & other birds...
The Vancouver Island region has water to thank for its incomparable birding opportunities. Ocean, marshes, lakes and rivers support a vast array of bird species, including Bald Eagles, Brant Geese and Trumpeter Swans. There are forests with birds such as owls and songbirds aplenty, too. While bird numbers swell considerably during the spring and fall migrations, hundreds of species live year-round in the area, so anytime is a good time for birding in this region. The Bald Eagle and Osprey are spotted daily fishing throughout the San Juan Bay.

black bear
Best left to its own devices, the common black bear frequents the local beaches and is also commonly sighted up the rivers and inlets in search of fish and other delectables. Black Bears are the most common of the North American Bears and compared to their relative, the Grizzly Bear, they are also the smallest. Not all Black Bears are black, most however are black with a brownish muzzle and a white throat patch.

elk & deer
Spotted mostly on the estuary tours as they can be commonly seen in the meadows along the river enjoying a meal of long grass & lichens. The Rooselvelt elk that are found here are the second largest in the entire deer family and the biggest elk species in the world!

inter-tidal life & tide pools
These areas are renowned for their uniquely rich tide pools and shoreline with fantastic geological features. Annenomies, hermit crabs & starfish are just a few guarantied creatures to be seen hanging out in the pools at low tide.

17152 Parkinson Road, Port Renfrew BC, CANADA 250.647.5562