Summer of 2008 Grizzly and Black Bear watching in Stewart BC



STEWART MOUNTAIN LODGE OWNER & FILMMAKER DAVE CRAIG RELEASES A NEW DVD
Filmed entirely in Stewart, British Columbia, and Hyder, Alaska. A wildlife film like you've never seen before.
Bear Crazy in Stewart BC & Hyder AK
STEWART BEAR FESTIVAL AUGUST 4-5 2007
August 9 2007 - Amazing summer weather, a smaller than normal salmon run, make this summer absolutely fabulous for watching Bears and enjoying the gorgeous scenery in and around Stewart BC and Hyder AK. Less fish = More Bears this summer at the bear viewing platform. There has been some bear romances going on at Fish Creek lately. Some of us think maybe the blonde female grizz that has a new cub was involved. Nobody has seen the cub in 2-3 weeks. There has also been some scrapping going on between the bears. Very exciting Bear watching.

Stewart Mountain Lodge owners Dave and Christy Craig out paddling the canoe at the Bear Glacier. This roadside glacier is about 20 minutes from Stewart on the way into town. This is some big ice!

Ask Dave or Christy for help with your adventures in this maginificent place! A Blondy Grizzly bear carefully stalks fish at the bear viewing platform.

"Marlene" enjoys a salmon buffet on the banks of Fish Creek. "Harry D" or "Dog Bear" enjoys skinning a salmon. Harry D has a distinguising mark across his nose and shoulder

There have been some flirting episodes aswell as aggressive standoffs this week at the Bear viewing platform. Awesome stuff! Photos by Christy Craig



JULY 30th 2007 - Tide Lake has now flooded the Salmon river. The water was mirky but has since cleaned up and water levels are lower now. The fish are still slow to come this year, but today there were many more then before. This morning from around 6:30 am to 10am we had a large male they call "Harry D' come through and catch a salmon after a great chase. He ate most of it then left some for two eagles to eat. 45 minutes later Mom and her triplets showed up and put on an amazing show. She caught a fish then the cubs squeeled and began fighting over it. Mom had to step in and reprimand one cub very harshly I thought. AMAZING video this morning! the cubs wrestled and ran around crazily! I took the still pics when nothing fancy was happening so the shots aren't good but my video IS!

Big Male Grizzly bear searches the brush on the sides of Fish Creek looking for a Salmon in hiding. All of my photographer friends at Fish Creek. The real wildlife.


Welcome to Fish Creek! Mom goes after a fish while 2 of the 3 cubs follow and wait for a meal.


The friendly staff at Fish Creek are very knowledgable. They will help you purchase your day use permit.


Mom rolls a huge boulder over looking for something, but soon the cubs join her rolling the large rock. Quite a unique scene.

July 21st 2007 - Today at fish creek bear watching area we saw Monica and her triplets, and a Grizzly bear named Harry D. I bought my season permit today and it cost me $82.50 Canadian. Harry D is a pretty big guy for being the start of summer. Here are two shots of "Harry the Dog bear" a male grizzly at Fish creek. What a gorgeous day! Also saw 4 black bears in Hyder and another grizzly on the way home from fish creek. Amazing still pictures By Christy Craig.


These two pictures are of "harry D" at fish creek July 21st 2007



July 19th 2007 - The very first Chum Salmon have begun to start running up the Salmon river and Fish Creek. The Bear viewing Platform at fish creek is an excellent place to view the bears catching salmon. Yesterday I watched "Monica" and her 2 year old triplets run around the creek, and she actually did a great job catching a huge fish. The run has just begun and in order to catch one it takes great skill. The cubs squeeled and fought with each other over the meal. Great entertainment for my first visit of the year. Visitors should know they are now charging a small fee to gain access to the wildlife viewing platform so bring cash.

Last summers Bear watching and Salmon run
August 18th 2006 - The wildlife viewing platform at Fish Creek has been a hot bed of Bear activity lately. Male bears taking on each other to show dominance. Male and female bears have been seen courting at the creek. A rare chance to see this anywhere in the world. The Mother bear with 3 cubs is still making almost daily appearances. Once this week she took on and physically attacked a male bear that could have taken out one or more of her cubs. Pictures below are of a small grizzly at the lagoon, and of Keith Scott the "Bear Man" up at the salmon glacier summit. All Pictures by Christy Craig taken this August at Fish Creek.

                  

August 10th 2006 - Hundreds of Eagles can be seen where the Salmon river meets the pacific ocean. Also Seals are in the area scooping up Salmon where they can. They swim up the river, catch a fish then surf down the river back to the canal. You can watch them on there backs eating salmon. Go down at low tide and see this all happen. Plenty of hiking to be had in the high country. This past week I hiked down to some massive ice chunks left by the glacier at Summit lake. All Pictures by Christy Craig taken this August.

                  

August 4th 2006 - What a show! There are Grizzly bears everywhere! While heading to Fish Creek bear viewing platform from Hyder, make sure to keep your eyes peeled to the Salmon river on your left. Bears of all sizes are roaming up and down the river flats chowing on the abundant salmon run. On to the show..... Mother Grizz and her new triplets have been putting on such a great show for everyone. Usually staying for 1-2 hours at a time, she would catch fish for the cubs and let them play/eat it. The cubs would squeel and play fight over the fish delighting the onlookers. The cubs look eager to learn to fish for themselves but are still a bit young. The viewing platform has been quite busy in the evenings, so if you'd rather go when it's less busy try early mornings or after lunch. Pictures by Christy Craig taken August 3rd at Fish Creek.

                  

July 31st 2006 - The Salmon are now running! Lots of fish at the Fish Creek Bear viewing area. The Salmon are spawning by the hundreds right now, with more arriving daily. This is bringing out the Grizzly and Black Bear, Wolves, Eagles, and all other scavengers. Quite a show lately. A mother Grizz with 3 cubs has been frequenting Fish Creek along with many other Bears. They cruise up and down the river diving at opportune moments in order to catch the fleeing salmon. Pictures below were taken this week by Christy Craig. Don't forget next Saturday (August 5th) is the 1st annual "Stewart Hyder Bear Festival" . We will be showing the popular documentary "Grizzly Man" at 7pm Saturday night at the lodge. Popular photographer, and writer Keith Scott will be talking and showing slides after the movie!

                  


June 20th 2006- More great weather the last month or so. Lots of bears all over town. I bet a busy summer is in store at the fish creek bear viewing platform. Kermode bears have been spotted between Kitwanga and Stewart at the mushroom picking area. Salmon Glacier road is plowed all the way past the summit to the granduc mine. STEWART BEAR FESTIVAL! AUGUST 4-5 2006 CALL Christy at 250 636 2640 for more info. Here are some recent Bear pics from around town.

                  

MAY 2nd 2006-The weather is great, and the first bears have begun emerging. The other day on the drive into Stewart from Terrace we counted 11 bears. These Black Bears were either on the road, or beside the road. The road past Hyder to the Fish Creek bear viewing platform has now been plowed out. There is still lots of snow in the mountains but the road to the Salmon Glacier has been plowed out. Please use caution on the road as there are other recreational, and mining vehicles using the road at all times.Check the photo updates section for up to date bear watching conditions and recent pictures from our adventures.
. We offer rental canoes, rental atvs, rental mountain bikes and help with drop off service. We can also help you book a fishing charter on the beautiful Portland Canal.

                  

Give us a call at 250 636 2640 or Contact info@stewartmountainlodge.com