The Wildlife of Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Vancouver Island is one of Canada‘s most stunning destinations for wildlife lovers. This island in British Columbia has over 2,000 miles of coastline, famous for bears prowling its shores and whales breaching out of the surrounding Pacific waters. The best time to see wildlife on holidays to Vancouver Island is April to October. To help you plan your trip, here is our pick of the most unforgettable Vancouver Island wildlife experiences:

Bears on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is inhabited by some 7,000 black bears, often seen in the wild fishing, foraging and playing with their cubs. It’s a great location to watch bears between April and September, while the prime viewing time is during the famous salmon run from late August to late September, when bears snatch fish from the rivers.

The Pacific Rim on the west coast is one of the best places to see black bears on excursions from Tofino and Ucluelet. Black bears can also be viewed near Campbell River in the east and Port Hardy in the north.

Grizzly bears can be seen on holidays to Vancouver Island, although these bears don’t live on the island itself. Grizzlies and the rare white spirit bears live in the vast wilderness of the nearby Great Bear Rainforest, accessible by sea plane or boat.

Knight Inlet Lodge is one of the best locations to watch grizzly bears on our 11-day Bears and Wilderness of British Columbia Tour Bears can be viewed from platforms, on hikes, and from boats or on kayaking trips.

Whales and orcas on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is one of the world’s premier whale-watching destinations with large populations of humpback, minke and gray whales migrating here, as well as orcas. It’s one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights to see these incredible creatures twirling out of the water on a boat trip.

Overall, the best time to go whale-watching is June to September, while the migration of gray whales peaks late March to late April. The best destinations on Vancouver Island for whale-watching are Victoria in the south, and Tofino and Ucluelet on the west coast, surrounded by the Pacific Rim National Reserve.

On the north-east coast, the sheltered waters of Johnstone Strait and Broughton Archipelago near Telegraph Cove have large populations of orcas, as well as humpback whales.

Other Vancouver Island wildlife

The waters around Vancouver Island are filled with marine life. As well as whales, visitors on boat trips can see dolphins, porpoises, sea lions, seals and otters.

On land, Vancouver Island is a good place to see wolves, cougars and elk. The island has abundant birdlife with bald eagles one of the most impressive sights for bird-watchers.

Browse our range of holidays to Vancouver Island, including our 14-day Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast holiday, or try our 11-day tour including the Great Bear Rainforest. Alternatively, spend a week exploring on your own steam on a luxury motorhome tour.