A female grizzly bear and her cubs were recently spotted on northern Vancouver Island, a rare sight which experts say could soon be more common. (Stock image/The Canadian Press)

By Jordan Davidson

big bears

Grizzly bear and cubs seen on northern Vancouver Island possible sign of recolonization

Aug 20, 2024 | 3:02 PM

NANAIMO — A rare sighting of grizzly bears may soon become more common after a mother grizzly and her two cubs were recently spotted on the north Island.

A photographer was able to capture the three bears in July interacting with an elk, in a video which has made the rounds online.

Garth Mowat, a B.C. government biologist who specializes in large carnivores, said although grizzlies have been spotted on the Island in the past, the presence of two young cubs is significant.

“We define a population of animals as present if it’s breeding. There’s been grizzly bears showing up on Vancouver Island for more than a decade. Previous to that, the sightings were very rare, and I didn’t even hear of any when I started my career 40 years ago.”

Mowat said another female grizzly with a pair of cubs had been spotted further north since then, which Mowat said makes him wonder if grizzlies are starting to recolonize the Island.

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He said grizzlies were common here prior to the last ice age, approximately 10,000 years ago.

The chance of any female grizzly leaving the area once it has cubs is slim, said Mowat, based on their previous experience relocating female bears on the mainland.

“When we translocated females with cubs, they often made a bee-line back for their home range, so they have a lot invested in their range, so I would be surprised if they would leave now.”

While grizzly sightings are still too low to consider conducting an official survey to determine their number on Vancouver Island, Mowat said the public taking photos and reporting them to the Conservation Officer Service.

“I think many of us have is, why are they doing this now? Why didn’t they do this 2,000 years ago, or 200 years ago, or 40 years ago, why now? And I don’t have the answer to that question.”

Thousands of black bears live on Vancouver Island, with some animal conservation sites suggesting the number could be as high as 12,000.

— with files from Jon De Roo/97.3 FM The Eagle.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow