TOFINO WILDLIFE BLOG
Bear Watching Tour
The Bear Watching Tour is a unique and unforgettable experience that provides visitors with an opportunity to observe black bears in the natural habitat and learn about their behaviour and ecology. It is a great way to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of the west coast of Vancouver Island. This tour is perfect for those guests who prefer to boat on calm and protected waters.
Bear Watching Tours in Tofino take visitors by boat to observe black bears in their natural habit, foraging for berries and shellfish on the low tide. Guides are knowledgable about bear behaviour and will help visitors understand the importance of respecting the bears’ space and avoiding interfering with their natural activities.
WHY VISIT THE HOT SPRINGS?
There are several reasons to visit the hot springs in Maquinna Marine Park, located north of Tofino.
Relaxation: Soaking in the natural hot springs is a great way to unwind and relax. The heat from the water can help soothe sore muscles and relieve stress, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
GRAY WHALE MIGRATION
Gray Whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal species. They travel annually between their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic and their winter breeding and calving grounds in the lagoons of Baja, Mexico.
BEAR WATCHING TOURS START IN APRIL
The Tofino Bear Watching Tours start up again in April. All bear watching tours navigate the calm and protected waters around Meares Island at low tide in search for black bears foraging on crabs and fish. The daily bear tours run 2.5 hours and are offered on our Open-Air Boston Whaler Boats and the heated cabin cruiser boat. The bear watching tour times change daily with the low tide.
KICKING OFF THE 2022 SEASON WITH THE RUNAWAYS
A visit from the Bigg’s Killer Whales T109A’s and T109B’s near Tofino, British Columbia.
May Whale Watching in Tofino !
May was another great month on the water around Clayoquot Sound. Did you know that we share our sightings with researchers? Whenever possible we submit images of the whales to support ongoing efforts to catalogue the whales. Last month we photographed 29 different grey whales, and submitted those sightings along with location information to the Pacific Wildlife Foundation.
A Visit From the T068C's
A visit from the Bigg’s Killer Whales T068C’s in the Tofino Harbour on March 31, 2021.
T123's, T069A's, T069D's & T109A's in Tofino this Week!
On Sunday we had a visit from the Bigg’s Killer Whales T069A’s, T069D’s and T123A. They travelled through the Tofino Harbour, up Browning Passage and into Tofino Inlet.
Back in Tofino: Bigg's Killer Whales T109B's, T109C's and Lone Bull T065A2
Yesterday was a great day for Killer Whale sightings for our guides in Tofino! In the morning Howie Tom picked up the T109B’s and T109C’s at Cleland Island. These two gangs spent the afternoon slowly making their way to Lennard Light eating many seals along the way. These two gangs are the offspring of T109 (aka Big Momma) and are frequent visitors to Clayoquot Sound.
The T007B's and T010's in Tofino!
Yesterday two Bigg’s Killer Whale gangs were picked up by a fisherman off Gowland Rocks. We went out in Lil’ Salty to Wilf Rock to see who they were. We observed the T007B’s and T010’s hunting and traveling up the coast together.
Big Momma! Transient Killer Whale T109 in Tofino!!
Big Momma! T109 (born in the mid 1970’s) is a frequent visitor to Clayoquot Sound. This matriarch is a mother to 4 daughters and 1 son plus Grandmother/Great Grandmother to 13 offspring. She was in Tofino yesterday with T109D, T109D1 and T109E. Yesterday was our first encounter with her since T109B and T109C split off with their offspring.
Finally! The T109A's come back to Clayoquot Sound with T097!
This morning John and I were going to head out to try and photograph Blue Sharks but our plans changed when we got word that there were 9 Bigg’s Killer Whales off Lennard Light. The T109A’s, now a gang of eight, were back! They had not been photographed in our waters since winter. This gang is locally known as The Runaways and they are frequent visitors to the Tofino area. The gang had a bull with them today. T097, who was born in 1980, has only been photographed in our area once in 2011. We were excited to photograph a new to us Killer Whale and use the new DFO Photo-Identification catalogue! The Killer Whales spent most of the day slowing moving up the coast killing several seals along the way.
Minke Whales & Humpback Whales off Tofino
We have had fantastic Whale sightings over the past week in Tofino.
Guests on our tours have been able to see Minke Whales a few miles off Lennard Light. Minke Whales are the second smallest baleen whale. The Minke Whale is does not give us as much surface time as other whales. It breathes three to five times at short intervals before 'deep-diving' for two to 20 minutes. Deep dives are preceded by a pronounced arching of the back.
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES: T075B's, T075C's and T037A1 were in Tofino the past two days!
Yesterday we got word that 6 Killer Whales were making their way into Templar Channel. We met up with the Killer Whales as they were making their way through the Channel into the Tofino Harbour. They swam through the harbour and up Browning Passage. We identified the whales as the T075B, T075B2, T075B3, T075C, T075C1 and T037A1. They were last seen last night in the Bedwell.
SRKW - New Calf with J Pod
Yesterday we got word from Tim (The Whale Centre) and Jeffrey Tom (Jamie’s) that there were Killer Whales 4 miles off Lennard Light. John and I headed out on the Lil Salty to go out and see who the whales were. We got on scene and determined that the whales were in fact J pod. All whale watching companies made the call to stop watching the whales once they knew they were in fact SWKW.
Are the T023's the new locals?
A big shout out to Captain Chris McCue from Jamie’s Whaling Station for picking up the T023’s coming into the Tofino Harbour yesterday. It was a windy and choppy afternoon so the Killer Whales in calm waters were a real treat for everyone. John and I caught up with the Motley Crew gang (all of them: Janice and the C’s and D’s) in Browning Passage. We left them last night at the entrance to Gunner.
A Quick Glimpse of Killer Whales T117 and T120
Yesterday we got word that there were two Bigg’s Killer Whales heading up the coast off Cleland Island. Jamie’s Whaling Station was on scene and said there was a male bull and a female traveling quickly up the coast. We headed out in the Eco. These whales were traveling at 10 knots so we caught up with them off of Hot Springs Cove. T120 (born 1986) was with his mother T117 (born T117). We were able to capture a few photo ID’s of both whales and then we let them go. They were on a mission!
Another Day with Motley Crew - T023 Killer Whales in Tofino!
Another day with the whole family! First we got word that T023 and the T023D’s were back in the Bedwell this morning, right where we left them last night. John and I headed out in Lil’ Salty at 9:45 to the back side of Meares Island. When we arrived on scene the gang of Transient Killer Whales had just made a kill and were on the move heading out towards Rant Point.