Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary 30.06.-03.07.2022

[Botswanadreams]

It was our first trip to North America. Originally plant for 2020 with a stay in the famos Brooks Lodge but as you all know it wasn't possible. We had to postpone for 2021 but without Brooks Lodge due to no contingent for Foreigners. What could we do? We got space at the Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge that fits our vessel trip to Southeast Alaska. Both were postponed again for 2022. Khutzeymateen is a 20 minutes fly by floodplain from Prince Rupert BC.

 

  

 

It is one of my favorite pics but I'll show later one our two from every Grizzly encounter we had in the Khutzeymateen.     

[mtanenbaum]

Can't wait to hear the details! This type of trip is on my bucket list....

[offshorebirder]

I am looking forward to your trip report @Botswanadreams.    Thank you in advance.

[Botswanadreams]

Thanks @mtanenbaum and @offshorebirder for your interest. 

 

We flew from Vancouver to Prince Rupert by Air Canada. The little airport is on Digby Island. With a shuttle bus via land and ferry Air Canada brings you to Downtown Prince Rupert. It is necessary to stay one night in Prince Rupert before you go to the Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge because the flight by floodplain is on the first day at 8 am. There are a few hotels in Prince Rupert and a taxi service is available to get to the Seal Cove Seaplane Base. Deep hanging clouds, no rain and no fog so we were off on time to the lodge.  

 

 

 

 

It was a pleasant fly over the coastal mountains to the Khutzeymateen Inlet. Less then an hour after arriving we were dressed in Floater suits and off in 24-foot roofed zodiac to explore the Khutzeymateen in search off Grizzlys. 

Edited August 27, 2022 by Botswanadreams

[Botswanadreams]

This are the Grizzlys from our first tour on day one. 

 

No. 1: A young male was busy to eat mussels

 

 

No. 2: I think it was a female digging clams

 

 

No. 3: loved a varied diet - first greens, then seafood

 

 

No. 4: strolled decorated along the banks of the inlet

 

No 5: What's going on?

 

We were really happy with our first boot trip. The 10 guests of the lodge and nobody else were seen in this 2 1/2 hours.   

 

 

 

[mtanenbaum]

What month of the year were you there?

[Botswanadreams]

@mtanenbaum I have the exact date in the topic - 30.06.-03.07.2022. 

 

If you plan to go to Khutzeymateen I would try a bit earlier like mid June because than you have the chance to see the big males. As we were there the mating season was finished and the old males than go back in the mountains. An other very good time is late August up to the end of the season when the salmons come back to the Khutzeymateen river. I wouldn't go from mid July to late August. It is a time with less or sometimes no bears coming to the Inlet. Than they go Whale Watching indeed. 

 

After our stay we went to Southeast Alaska with a fixed starting day in Prince Rupert. So we couldn't change our time but in the end it was a big success. 

[TravelMore]

omgosh!!! @Botswanadreams I   n e e d    t h i s     t r i p!   I'm not familiar with "floater suits" ?

 

 

Edited August 27, 2022 by TravelMore

[Botswanadreams]

@TravelMore This is a "floater suit" - warm, and for wind and water protection. All guests can get it from the lodge.                 

[TravelMore]

2 hours ago, Botswanadreams said:

@TravelMore This is a "floater suit" - warm, and for wind and water protection. All guests can get it from the lodge.                 

Ahh when i tried to look it up i only saw surfer type swimear. Thus makes sooo much more sense! 😸

[TravelMore]

@Botswanadreams, these photos are phenomenal. Sennfing the lunk yo my adult son. He never has time to "plan" a good vaca but they seem to take care of it all here. All he has to do is get to Prince Rupert. 

 

Did you fly?

Edited August 28, 2022 by TravelMore

[Botswanadreams]

Yes @TravelMore we flew from Vancouver to Prince Rupert by Air Canada the day before the trip to the Lodge. The flight with the Floodplain to the lodge is included in the package. 

[Botswanadreams]

This are the Grizzlys from our second tour on day one. 

 

 

 

No 6 and 7: Mom with her little one in the second year

 

No 8: this guy was to close by the mom and the reason that they escape in the forest

 

 

No: 9: the last for day one

 

 

 

 

Edited August 28, 2022 by Botswanadreams

[TravelMore]

Stunning!!! Camera and lens?

[Botswanadreams]

@TravelMore I only have a Panasonic FZ 1000.2

[Botswanadreams]

This are the Grizzlys from our Morning tour on the second day. 

 

 

Our young male - eating mussels was yesterday, now he built himself a bed for a nap

 

How can such a big bear get enough of these little shells? 

 

 

The third grizzly on this morning tour was also busy digging up the clams. 

 

 

 

 

 

Two males doing there daily activities together

 

"Hey bear, the water is our territory, the land is yours"  We had to move a bit backwards

 

[pomkiwi]

@BotswanadreamsThanks for this report and lovely pictures. Is it just me or do most of these bears look on the thin side?

[Botswanadreams]

@pomkiwi Thank you. Yes you are right. The bears were not this heavy but I think in this time of the year it is maybe normal. The salmonberries  just started to get ready and the salmon run hasn't started. So after a long winter there was not this much food to get the lost wight from the hibernation again. 

Edited September 2, 2022 by Botswanadreams

[Botswanadreams]

The afternoon on day two

 

 

The mother with cup again

 

A vegetarian bear

 

We were happy with this nice weather but all this Grizzlys chose the wrong place to the sun direction

Edited September 2, 2022 by Botswanadreams

[Botswanadreams]

Our last day, the morning

 

 

You can't see me!

 

Landscape with Grizzly

 

 

Our two friends, now with a bit distance  

 

 

 

[Botswanadreams]

Our last day the afternoon

 

The best food for now

 

 

An old lady "Big Mom" picking the first Salmonberries

 

 

And our last lovely bear at the Kutzeymateen

Edited September 6, 2022 by Botswanadreams

[Botswanadreams]

A little bit of the landscape 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is the Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge - our swimming home 

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

Beautiful landscapes and beautiful bears

[Zim Girl]

Really lovely set of bear pictures, I love the one with it's paw over it's face.

The area you were in is stunning!

[Botswanadreams]

Thank you very much @TonyQ and @Zim Girl . 

 

 

The landscape on our return flight to Prince Rupert