Grizzly bear and cubs spotted on Vancouver Island for first time

globalnews.ca:

grizzly bears on Vancouver Island for the first time.Catherine Babault, who owns Catherine Babault Photography, said she first spotted a sow and two cubs in July.“This is a very rare sighting,” she said. “I am a professional wildlife photographer from Vancouver Island. I give photo tours and workshops all year round.

Also, I just released my third photo book, so I spent a lot of time in the field, photography, nature, and particularly wildlife and big mammals. I really like bears, obviously. And so I knew about the grizzly bears in that area in particular, and that’s why I went there a few times.”When Babault went back a few weeks later, she saw them near a herd of elk and thought she’d better film it.“I didn’t know what to expect,” Babault told Global News.“I was worried a little bit for the Roosevelt elk, but they showed a lot of … strength.

They were also a herd, so they were big numbers. And they started to chase the grizzly bears, which was very, very unusual. And, I’m glad that it didn’t end up, the other way around.”Babault said it was exciting to see.She knows there have been a few grizzly bear sightings on the Island but this is the first time she’s that she knows of, of a mother and her cubs being spotted.“I think it will have an impact on recreational activities, because now people camping and fishing and hunting, might see grizzly bears,” Babault added.“We are used to seeing black bears, but now we’ll have to get used to seeing more grizzly bears.