Daily Dose of Beauty, March 24th

Bella Coola River Bear

Daily Dose of Beauty: Adding a bit of light to the darkness as we get through the pandemic together.

March 24th, 2020

It was Sunday afternoon in Bella Coola when we spotted this grizzly. The evening chill was settling in a foggy layer above the river as he was catching salmon, enjoying the last hour of sun. He pounced and splashed, caught fish and filled his belly. The birds weren’t too bothered, pecking at the leftover carnage. Even from afar with a 300mm lens, this grizzly looked big and powerful. And so, too, did the Bella Coola river. Just around the bend, a black bear picked her way through the logs and brush along the shoreline. Clearly in the spring, this artery flows with force bringing all kinds of debris along with it.

Bella Coola Black Bear

The Rip Rap Campsite wildlife viewing platform is an exceptional place to watch this rugged world go by. Slightly elevated, it feels safe from the grizzlies – mentally, anyway. They pose no physical threat unless threatened themselves.

Bella Coola Beauty

Rip Rap Wildlife Platform

Bella Coola River

Spending a weekend here makes you feel just how fragile you are. When you think of all the seasons, the freezing winters, the long dark nights, the deep snow, the search and competition for food, the dwindling salmon run in the fall … all creatures thriving in the outdoors here, including these solitary grizzly and black bears, illustrate the tenacity of life. Combine that with seeing the untouched beauty of the Coast Mountains, and Bella Coola becomes a visceral experience in wild nature that just doesn’t exist in too many places anymore. This is really what makes all of Canada special, in addition to its poutine, ice hockey and population of super nice people (like Andrew, and Alison & Don).

We’ll enjoy one last grizzly sighting tomorrow before we move on to our next location. In the meantime stay healthy, wash your hands and watch for bears in the world markets. They are lurking. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Until tomorrow,
Kelly

Bella Coola Grizzly

This post is also part of this week’s Lens Artists challenge: A River Runs Through It