Take bear viewing to new heights on our new Wildlife & Grizzly Bear Viewing Station
Aug. 26, 2013, Bella Coola, BC – Guides and guests are experiencing the elevated benefits of the new Wildlife & Grizzly Bear Viewing Station at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge as hungry grizzly bears searching for their daily calories feast on record numbers of pink salmon making their spawning trek up the Atnarko River.
As the apex predator of British Columbia, the grizzly bear has long been sought after by visitors carrying multiple camera lenses. Capturing this majestic animal in its natural setting through the lens of a camera can be one of life’s most thrilling experiences for both professional and novice photographers. Tweedsmuir Park Lodge’s Wildlife Viewing Station was made with photographers in mind. There is room for photographers to set-up their tripods under the covered and elevated structure and extra wide railings for those without tripods.
“Safety for our guests and wildlife is the most important aspect of our business,” says Tim Wilkinson, sales and marketing director for Tweedsmuir Park Lodge. “It used to be that if guests wanted to see grizzlies, they would have to venture into the wilderness and risk accidentally surprising a bear. We have built the viewing station to offer a safer and more comfortable place to watch these amazing creatures in action, as well as be less intrusive to the bears.” Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and cabins are situated in a semi-circle with a grass and clover field in the middle; clover is a favourite snack for young cubs and their mothers. The openness of the field and plentiful food make a relaxing environment for the bears and offers the lodge’s guests the chance to see grizzlies from the comfort of their cabin. The walk from the lodge to the bear Viewing Station is bordered with a non-intrusive electric fence, so even when guests are out of the lodge area the threat of an unexpected wildlife encounter is low.
Although grizzly bear viewing is the bucket list item for many of the guests at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, many other wildlife viewing opportunities exist alongside the majestic animal. Guests might also have the chance to see black bears, otters, mountain goats, wolves, kingfishers and birds of prey including bald eagles. “Many people come for the grizzly bears and leave with an appreciation for the whole ecosystem we have up here,” says Wilkinson.
About Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, tucked among a grove of ancient cedars and Douglas fir along the Atnarko River on BC’s central coast, was practicing eco-tourism long before the word was invented. It is an oasis of luxury perched on the doorstep of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, and home base for heli-hiking, grizzly bear watching, guided nature hikes and fly-fishing and where sustainability guides all aspects of operation, whether it’s supplying guests with reusable water bottles filled with mountain water and using biodegradable cleaning products, or assisting BC Parks with monitoring local wildlife. Accommodations are in private log cabins and timber chalets set among towering Douglas firs and cedars and looking out on an open field with views of the glaciated peaks beyond. The main lodge's great room is the perfect venue for sipping cocktails around the crackling hearth and debriefing over the day's photographic adventures before sitting down for a three course dinner of healthy gourmet cuisine. There is a brand new spa facility with hot tub, stretching, yoga and exercise room and deep tissue massages are available upon request.