advertise
Vancouver Island Wildlife

Vancouver

Island

A guide to the wild.

British Columbia, Canada

Scroll to explore
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!

WILDERNESS
Explore The Island

Find your Wild Place

From coastal forests and quiet bays to remote shorelines and marine habitats, Vancouver Island offers countless opportunities to experience wildlife in its natural surroundings.

Bald eagle flying over forests
GUIDED TOURS

WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES

Immerse yourself in nature with our curated selection of guided excursions, designed to bring you face-to-face with the Island's most majestic inhabitants.

01
Whale Watching

WHALE WATCHING

Experience the thrill of seeing Orcas and Humpback whales in their natural habitat, guided by expert marine naturalists.

02
Bear Tours

BEAR TOURS

Safely observe Black and Grizzly bears as they forage along the coastline or fish in remote rivers.

03
Birding

BIRDING

Discover the incredible diversity of avian life, from majestic Bald Eagles to hundreds of migratory species.

Vancouver Island Coastline

WHERE TO WATCH

SCROLL TO EXPLORE

DISCOVER HABITATS

From Anise Swallowtails to Opalescent Squid to Gray Whales, Vancouver Island is one of the most diverse and outstanding wildlife watching sites in Canada.

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.

"On the West coast, near Pacific Rim National Park, and off the East coast, at Telegraph Cove, are some of the best places to see marine life."

Whale tail diving

THE ISLAND IN NUMBERS

0 +
ESTIMATED BEARS
0 +
ESTIMATED WHALES
0 +
ESTIMATED BIRDS

* GUIDE FIGURES. ESTIMATES BASED ON HISTORICAL REGIONAL SIGHTINGS.

Wildlife background
ETHICS & GUIDELINES

RESPONSIBLE WILDLIFE WATCHING

"The safety and well-being of the animals must always come first. Approaching too closely or feeding wildlife can cause irreversible harm to their natural behaviors and survival."

Wildlife in the distance
SAFE DISTANCES

MAINTAIN YOUR SPACE

"When surrounded by people, even wild animals become stressed. During mating season, or when females are with offspring, wildlife behaviour can be unexpected. Please keep these minimum distances."

30 m

OTHER LARGE SPECIES

100 m

FROM BEARS

200 m

COYOTE, FOX, WOLF DENS

Awareness

Defensive Warning Signs

The Sign

"Make a 'woofing' noise, growl and snap their jaws."

Action Required
Pull back even more or leave the area
The Sign

"Put their heads down and paw at the ground."

Action Required
Pull back even more or leave the area
The Sign

"Flatten their ears, stare directly at you and raise their rump hair."

Action Required
Pull back even more or leave the area
Tools & Techniques

Tools & Watching Techniques

A comprehensive guide to preparing yourself for the best viewing opportunities in the wild.

Person looking through binoculars
01

Bring Binoculars

While binoculars are one of the most useful wildlife-watching instruments, picking the right pair may be challenging. An all-purpose pair could have a magnification of 7 or 8 and a lens diameter of 35 or 40 (7x35 or 8x40), which gathers a lot of light for wildlife watching at dawn or twilight. Finding the animal with your naked eye first is a good tip when utilizing binoculars.

02

Wear Appropriate Clothing Layers

Layering your clothing helps you to adapt to changing weather and temperatures. Consider the colour of your outfit, as birds have excellent colour vision. Keep hunting seasons in mind, and when appropriate, wear bright orange.

03

Use Field Guides

Identifying animals, learning about their habitats, and enriching your viewing experience may all be done with the use of field guides, wildlife apps, and other tools. In more remote regions, these resources can even be utilized without cellphone connectivity.

04

Go Out When Wildlife Is Active

Seasons and times of day influence wildlife behaviour. The early and final hours of daylight are when wildlife is most active, thus the time of day might affect your experience.

05

Be Patient, Still, and Silent

Slow down, take a few cautious steps, come to a complete halt, listen, and glance about. Avoid producing noise, such as treading on fragile sticks, and if possible, walk against the wind. Wildlife will be more likely to go about their daily activities if you sit immobile.

06

Use a Blind Spot

You'll have a better chance of having a successful watching experience if you can disguise yourself. Standing behind a tree or shrub rather than out in the open can be beneficial. Automobiles, boats, and canoes all make great viewing blinds.

07

Prepare For Your Outing

Before you go, make sure you know where you're going because some areas are secluded and lack amenities. Remember to wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to avoid being sunburned.

Vancouver Island Forest

Ready to Explore The Wild?

What Species You Want to Watch on Vancouver Island?