Wild Adventures: Sea Otters and more driftwood

Our next bear watching adventure was not until 4:30pm so we had most of the day on September 10th to do our own thing and explore more of the Pacific Rim National Park

Jet lag seems to be continuing as Andy and I keep waking up at 5am wide awake, either that or our bodies are still tuned to our African adventures whereby getting up at 5am is the norm. The morning of the 10th was no exception so making the most of our sleep deprived state we decided to get up early again, thus making the most of the day.

Sitting outside our lovely apartment as the sun rose that morning was just divine, so peaceful and tranquil. How could anyone ever get bored of this scenery! As I sipped my tea (oh how I wish I had brought PG tips!) something caught my eye in the water below the pier. At first I thought it was small seal, and then I realised that it was a Sea Otter. Tea abandoned I ran in to our room to do two things, grab Andy and a camera.

The otters had moved a little by the time camera and husband were in tow but not to far that we found them again within moments. They were so unbelievably cute, popping their heads up and down in the water, cruising for fish and other food along the shore in Tofino. It was still barely light so not too conducive for photography but Andy managed to get a few shots in as we willed the light to increase!

The cheeky little otters than jumped on one of the Zodiacs, the ones we had been on the day prior. They scuttled around mischievously and at one point starting scratching the canvas on the zodiac like a cat scratches a sofa! They really were comical and we were very happy to have seen Sea Otters.

Leaving the otters to their naughtiness we headed back to our apartment and decided to go for a walk in Bear country and in particular along a trail about 20 minutes outside of Tofino that was famed for huge and ancient Western Red Cedars. Although short, the trail was stunning and of course we found time to hug a few trees, as you do!

After this trail we headed off to a coastal trail at Wickaninnish beach. Again, this was stunning and right in the centre of the area in which Wolves have been increasingly seen recently. We knew we would not be lucky two days running but it was still exciting knowing they had been, or maybe were still around. Of course we were still in Bear country (Bears are found in most parts of Vancouver Island) so we always walked with caution and made sure we made enough noise to alert any bears of our presence. We wanted to see a bear along these trails but the last thing we wanted to do was to surprise one and get too close.

Walking along the trail we came across VERY fresh bear scat, mmm, interesting! As we approached each corner of the trail we wondered if we would bump into Yogi Bear! Then we came across what looked like Wolf scat, and on closer inspection its shape and size and contents (hair!) meant that we were probably correct, although we are by no means experts on North American wildlife scat. Ok, so we had to be a little careful here although it was not as fresh as the bear scat. Park wardens had placed some remote cameras along this trail, we wandered if Mr or Mrs Bear or or a Grey Wolf had been ‘papped’ that morning.

Meandering alone through small coves it was lovely, huge piles of driftwood again pilled up high where the sea had tossed it onto the beach. We then came across what looked like wolf tracks in the sand, it did not look like a typical domestic dog track and its ‘gait’ signaled that whatever Canid species it was had to be large and very long legged with significant claws and too large for a Coyote (even taking into account the fact it was on sand). We were not 100% but given all the other indications (and the fact that wildlife cameras had been placed in the same location) it seemed a logical conclusion!

We reached the end of the trail and then decided to head back as by now we were hungry, all that walking and tracking had meant we had developed quite an appetite.

Our time for our next bear viewing trip soon approached and off we ventured again on the zodiac. Although on this trip no Wolves (we knew that luck two days running was almost impossible!) we again had some really great bear sightings, including a mother and two cubs, possibly the same cubs from the day previous. All feeding along the shoreline. Bear sightings so far now totally 13 bears in two days!

Another great end to our last day in Tofino before we head off on September 11th for the 5.5 hour drive to Telegraph Cove where we will stay for three nights focusing again on Bears and Whales.

Sea Otters