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Vancouver Island Wildlife Viewing Guide

Vancouver Island is the adventure capital of British Columbia. A wonderful place in which you can fulfill your nature loving desires. An untouched and virgin nature, home to many species. The land, ocean, and the air of Vancouver Island have prepared endless wildlife watching opportunities for those wildlife viewing aficionados. Wildlife such as bears, whales, and colourful types of birds are awaiting you on Vancouver Island. Stay with us!

Sea Lion Watching on Vancouver Island

Sea Lion Watching on Vancouver Island

Sea lions gather in sizable colonies on the islands' rocky and sandy coasts. Stay with us to learn more about these species on Vancouver Island.

Seal Watching on Vancouver Island

Seal Watching on Vancouver Island

It shouldn't take long to locate the harbour seal, Canada's Pacific coast's most common marine animal. Stay with us to gain more insight.

Greater White-fronted Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

Greater White-fronted Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

The Greater White-fronted Geese is a stocky brown goose found across the Northern Hemisphere, including Vancouver Island.

Canada Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

Canada Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

Canadian Geese abound on Vancouver Island throughout the winter months. When migratory birds return north in the spring, this rises. Their unique coloration makes them easy to spot.

Brant Watching on Vancouver Island

Brant Watching on Vancouver Island

Brant is a type of migratory game bird on Vancouver Island. These waterfowls can be categorized as geese which come to the Island every spring.

Porpoise Watching on Vancouver Island

Porpoise Watching on Vancouver Island

Many people think that porpoises are a type of dolphin. It's wrong. They are a completely different family of cetaceans inhabiting the waters of Vancouver Island. Also, they aren't "baby orcas". Stay with us to tell you more.

Eagle Watching on Vancouver Island

Eagle Watching on Vancouver Island

Come to Vancouver Island to see how the apex feathered predator come down from the sky for a grab. Let Vanisle Wildlife be your company!

Humpback Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Humpback Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Remember the nostalgic Hunchback of Notre Dame? Well, the waters of Vancouver Island is not deprived of such creature. Humpback whales are another migratory marine species that count Vancouver Island shore as one of their favorites.

Gray Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Gray Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Looking for an opportunity for spotting the longest-route migrating mammals on earth? Vancouver Island is the land in which this opportunity grows on the tree. Stay with us to tell you more about this wonderful journey.

Orca Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Orca Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Whale watching on Vancouver island is full of wonders to explore! Come here to be a witness to the breaching of the most giant dolphin, Orca, in the world. They are the assassins of the marine mammals; even whales themselves.

Grizzly Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

Grizzly Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

If, in any case, you have grizzly bear watching on your Canada bucket list, put it in your bags and bring it to Vancouver Island. Let's get to the lost paradises of grizzly bear where they live in abundance. Stay with us!

Black Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

Black Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

Have you ever watch black bears play hid and seek? Vancouver Island black bear watching tours are what you're looking for. In order to know where is best to go black bear watching on Vancouver Island and where is the best place to go, stay with us!

Vancouver Island Bird Watching

On land and in the water, Vancouver Island is home to a diverse range of birds and fauna. Learning to distinguish different species can help us become more connected to nature and aware of our surroundings. Here are a few birds you could see when wandering along the island's coastal coasts or on one of our wildlife viewing boats. One can't help but observe the variety of birds that live in our area's woods, bays, and seashores while exploring the trails. From rocky and sandy shorelines and tidal mudflats through riparian and deciduous woods, dense old-growth cedar and Douglas fir stand, and up to interior rocky hilltops and Garry oak meadows, the geology of southern Vancouver Island offers a wide range of ecosystems. This variety attracts a diverse range of avifauna, and because our location provides ideal habitat for many bird species, bird watching on Southern Vancouver Island can be a spectacular experience.

Vancouver Island Bear Watching

Bears are iconic Canadian wildlife, and Vancouver Island is home to a large number of these gorgeous creatures that like playing in the open! It's no wonder; therefore, bear viewing trips are one of the most popular activities on Vancouver Island. There is an opportunity to engage on an expedition and view these beautiful creatures in a secure and non-invasive manner wherever you are on the Island. So, what should you know about seeing bears on Vancouver Island? Continue reading to discover about the many places, tour kinds, bear species, and what to anticipate in your experience!

Vancouver Island Whale Watching

Experience the ultimate Vancouver Island whale & wildlife adventures with Vanisle Wildlife. On a memorable day at sea onboard our open zodiac-style boats or our semi-covered vessel, experience BC's most Sustainable whale viewing. Whale and marine wildlife adventures will be available daily. Whales, wildlife, waterfalls, tidal rapids, and much more may be found here. Orcas or killer whales, humpback whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Steller & California sea lions, Pacific harbour seals, and stunning scenery and seascapes are just some of the animals you'll see. Whales are one of our greatest passions. We like sharing information about the marine habitat of Vancouver Island and the creatures that live there. We are committed to whale watching and wildlife observing responsibly and ethically.

Where to Watch Wildlife and Take Pictures on Vancouver Island?

From Anise Swallowtails to Opalescent Squid to Gray Whales, Vancouver Island is one of the most diverse and outstanding wildlife watching sites in Canada. Where to See Wildlife on Vancouver Island by award-winning journalist and author Kim Goldberg is the island's first wildlife guidebook providing 50 of the top wildlife watching locations. The 50 locations run from Victoria to Port McNeill on the east coast and from East Sooke to Tofino on the west coast, with plenty of opportunities to see wildlife, including several endangered species. There are 387 bird species, 66 butterfly, and 50 animals here, including the Northern Sea Lion, Black Bear, and Roosevelt Elk. Each winter, Vancouver Island hosts 25% of the world's Trumpeter Swan population.

Vancouver Island Bear/Whale/Bird Population

On the West coast, near Pacific Rim National Park, and off the East coast, at Telegraph Cove and surrounding the Discovery Islands, are some of the best places to see marine life. Remember! The finest times for photography and wildlife viewing are generally early and late in the day.

Vancouver Island Wildlife Watching Methods

Vancouver Island Wildlife Watching Rules and Regulations

Please respect the environment and its residents by staying on established routes to prevent trampling plants and provide ample room for wildlife. Photographers who travel the area in quest of good photo possibilities owe a special obligation to the park's wildlife and other visitors. Show the animal in its native habitat if you don't have a telephoto lens (at least 300-400 mm). based on what Parks Canada has announced, please pay attention to the following rules. • Do not surround, crowd or follow an animal. • Never put people (especially children) at risk by posing them with wildlife. • Do not stalk or pursue wildlife. • Never follow an animal into the bush. • Do not try to entice wildlife by feeding or by simulating animal calls (i.e. elk bugling). • Do not trample vegetated areas.

Wildlife Viewing Safety on Vancouver Island

When surrounded by people, even wild animals become stressed. This is difficult and harmful for the animal. During mating season, when females are with offspring and males are defending territory, wildlife behaviour can be unexpected. In most cases, the distances listed below are sufficient. It is, however, your obligation to keep an eye out for defensive warning signs and respond appropriately by backing up or from the area immediately. Note: Shooting wildlife from a vehicle or observation location is the safest method to do it. Stay back, in general the safe distance based on what Parks Canada claims are:
✓ 100 meters from bears (unless you are inside a vehicle). ✓ 30 meters from all other large species. ✓ 200 meters from coyote, fox or wolf dens.

Pull back even more or leave the area if you notice the following defensive warning signs that Parks Canada suggests: • Bears make a ‘woofing’ noise, growl and snap their jaws; • Bull elk and moose put their heads down and paw at the ground; • Cow elk flatten their ears, stare directly at you and raise their rump hair.

Wildlife Watching Tools and Techniques on Vancouver Island

What Species You Want to Watch on Vancouver Island?