Haida Gwaii Travel & Adventure Guide
( formerly Queen Charlotte Islands )

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Haida Gwaii, BC, Canada (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands) is an archipelago of 150+ islands located 93 nautical miles (172 kilometres) off the mainland coast of northern British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii is home to beautiful sandy beaches, forests, wildlife and an abundance of First Nation art, culture and tradition.

The two main populated islands of Haida Gwaii are Graham and Moresby Islands. South of the two populated islands is the world famous island called the Gwaii Haanas National Park.

Graham Island is the largest island of the two populated islands. It is the most accessible of the islands comprising of 6 villages - Masset, Old Masset, Port Clements, Tlell, Skidegate, and Queen Charlotte City. Transportation to and from Graham Island is via floatplane or via an 8-10 hour ferry excursion departing from the community of Prince Rupert, British Columbia which is located on the B.C. Mainland.

Moresby Island is home to one village named Sandspit Village. Moresby Island is accessed via floatplane and a ferry departing from Graham Island. Air travel to and from Haida Gwaii is also based out of Sandspit as it is the site of the main airport servicing commercial and charter airplanes.

The islands cover a total distance of 250 kilometres (156 miles) north to south and, at its thickest point, is less than 100 km (52 miles) east to west. Haida Gwaii is the western-most point of Canada and in the language of the First Nation people translates into, "a place of wonder".

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British Columbia Wildlife
Badger

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Badger (Taxidea taxus)

The BC badger is mostly found in the southeastern grasslands of British Columbia, Canada. The badger although looking cute and cuddly is really a ferocious fighter for its size often fighting off bears and cougars with hissing and barking as a distraction and warning sign that the badger is no push over.

During the confrontation the badger is planning a way out eventually borrowing a hole for an escape. The badger defends itself from bears and cougars, you can bet it is not afraid of us humans at all.

The badger enjoys feasting on groundhogs and squirrels. This British Columbia animal does like to cause a fuss leaving behind many potholes as it is constantly building a complex network of tunnels. badgers create a constant opportunity for land owners as their livestock can sometimes fall into the holes and break legs.

The badger usually, hibernates from November to April. The best times to spot a badger is early mornings and late evenings. But ... I would not suggest you approach this deceiving looking animal ... it is not harmless but the contrary.

British Columbia Wildlife
Bald Eagle

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Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Graceful and looking confident the Bald Eagle dominates the skies around British Columbia, and is more abundant in the Pacific West Coast regions of BC.
Usually within the vicinity of trees the eagle is a master at building nests. The Bald Eagle builds huge nesting areas on the top of trees usually within a short distance of its main food source.

It mates for life and returns to the same nest every year building onto the nest therefore increasing its size. The Bald Eagles are habit forming creatures and often make their nests near lakes and oceans within eyesight of their hunting grounds.

The Bald Eagle is mostly a scavenger. The birds razor like talons and beaks, keen eyesight and hearing does make this eagle a great hunter. The Bald Eagle is a bit lazy though, as it enjoys eating dead fish washed up on the shore or left behind. They are not into working for a meal if they do not have too.

Not much for manners, the Bald Eagle will rob an osprey of its catch, without even giving it a second thought. It will catch its own fish if it must and will resort to hunting squirrels, rabbits, and smaller birds on occasion if the food supply is getting scarce.

British Columbia Wildlife Beaver

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Beaver (Castor canadensis)

The beaver is found throughout British Columbia. A talented architect, the beaver builds and customizes each home on lakes, rivers and streams near their main food source of aspen, willow, white birch or popular trees. They use all types of materials in the construction of the beaver dam from trees to mud.

If a pond is not available the beaver will build a dam using again mud and twigs from the other side of the stream creating a self enclosed pond. The beaver dam is usually nine feet high and twenty feet in width. Inside the lodge ( beaver dam) the beaver cuts an inner chamber up through the centre of the home so to be above the water line.

The beaver mostly works at night and sleeps during the day. When beavers sense approaching danger they will slap their tails on the water sending out a warning signal and all will disappear under the water and scurry into the lodge or dam.

British Columbia Wildlife
Black Bear

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Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

The British Columbia Black Bear is found in most parks and wilderness areas of British Columbia, Canada. Some areas more than others. The Black Bear has poor eyesight , but it more than compensates that shortcoming with a extremely good sense of smell and hearing. The Black Bear eats mainly plant matter, but is also growing more and more comfortable with meat and human disposal products.

The Black Bear appears too be slow and walking with strain and pain, sometimes a bit clumsy and bow-legged. Looking like coming home from the bar. Do not let this fool you, as the bear can reach up to 25 -35 miles an hour and can climb tress with relative ease.

In the fall seasons the bears put on layers of fat in preparation for a deep winter sleep. It is not a hibernation, as per say, as there temperature drop slightly and they can be awaken by loud noises.

Over the years, bears have accustomed themselves to the human race, which is a concern as they are becoming more bolder and braver sometimes reaping havoc on hikers and walking into wilderness communities. Black bears are unpredictable and dangerous and should never be approached or fed.

British Columbia Wildlife
Blue Heron

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Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

The Great Blue heron is found throughout the west coast of British Columbia mostly dieting on fish and frogs, sometimes, snakes, mice, salamanders and insects.

The Blue Heron are hunters of patience and self control. The marine bird will stand in shallow water for hours waiting for their prey to come within reach of their long beak and neck. When the prey is within striking distance the Blue Heron will suddenly lunge its beak forward into the water and snap onto the prey pulling it up out of the water in its mouth.

The Blue Heron is a treat to watch in flight. It has a large wing span at times looking overwhelmed. The great sea bird when in flight glides in for a landing toward its perch and on the approach raises its legs and back pedals his wings until the heron is almost hovering at a stand still dropping slowly onto its perch.

British Columbia Wildlife
Canada Goose

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Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis)

Living, flying and breeding throughout British Columbia, the parenting Canada Geese will build their nests near water for the birthing of their goslings.
The goslings will grow to 24 times their weight at birth in just only eight weeks. The parents will mate for life. The male Canada Goose will guard the nest and is fearless in the process and will assume an attack position for the period of 28 days during the birthing process.

The goslings will take to the first object is sees for its parents at birth. Sometimes this attachment process mixes up the goslings and some are lost or gained forming extended families. Canada geese have a keen sense of hearing and sight. In the spring and fall the geese fly a “V” formation and announce their presence by a honking sound.

British Columbia Wildlife
Cougar

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Cougar (Felis concolor)

The British Columbia cougar is elusive, sleek and graceful. A beautiful animal to observe from a distance. The cougar is Canada's largest member of the feline family and often is referred to as a mountain lion or panther. Although, not accurate, the names have stuck.

The Interior cougars of BC, Canada have lighter colored coats of fur than the coastal cougar, which tends to be smaller, redder and is unique to Vancouver Island. Cougars primarily occupy the southern third of British Columbia, while on Vancouver Island, BC the greatest numbers of cougars are found on the northern half of the island.

They cougar is one of BC's greatest hunters who hunt using their strong sense of sight and sound. Mostly the cougar population hunt for deer, wild sheep, elk, rabbits, beaver, raccoons, grouse, and occasionally, when wondering too close to a community, livestock. The smaller prey is often killed by the cougar snapping their necks while the larger prey is suffocated by the cougar's jaws clamping down on the preys neck. A cougar is capable of killing large animals such as a 270 kg (600 lb) moose.

Female cougars breeding season is every eighteen to twenty-four months and consists of the mother having two or three young. The young is dependent on the female cougar for 12 to 20 months. By the time spring rolls around and into the summer, one to two-year old cougars become independent of their mothers and start hunting on their own. They may roam widely in search of unoccupied territory. At this young age is when cougars are most likely to conflict with humans. They do not know better.

British Columbia Wildlife
Great Horned Owl

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Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

The British Columbia Great Horned Owl is resilient in many ways often found high up in the trees nesting in vacated homes previously occupied by crows, eagles or hawks. Sometimes, the owl's home is occasionally on a cliff ledge so to havea good sight line on possible prey.

The owl possesses powerful razor sharp talons, a hooked bill and superb eyesight which are valuable assets when hunting from the air. During the day the owl is dozing, resting up in a tree and by nightfall it turns into a skilled predator stalking unaware animals using its keen night vision.

The owl digests its prey whole and then regurgitates the fur, bones as small pellets later. Crows dislike Horned Owls, not as predators, but more as a personality conflict. For some reason crows are intent to disturbing the owl. So much so that a great tracking device to where a Great Horned Owl is indicated by a large gathering of crows.

British Columbia Wildlife
Mallard Duck

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Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

The British Columbia mallard is often found in many of the vast lakes and ponds throughout the mainland of British Columbia and on Vancouver Island. The west coast mallard is an adaptable duck as it is comfortable in fresh and salt water showing a preference for the fresh water lakes and rivers.

The male mallard does not dive for food as many assume, but the duck skims the surface of the water collected insects and larvae with plates located on the inner side of their bills. think of it as the same concept as Baleen Whales when they are busy feeding on plankton.

Although they do not dive, they do go upside down in shallow water in order for them to have the position necessary for scraping the mud up from the bottom of the lake which contains microscopic organisms. A funny sight, the ducks butt in the air, feet paddling away maintaining a downward motion. If they could only talk, the stories we would hear.

British Columbia Wildlife
Marmot

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Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis )

The marmot is an endangered species and is found mostly in the high alpine meadows above 1000 metres on Vancouver Island, mostly living in colonies. The population of the marmot colonies has shrunk down hovering around 100 which makes it one of the most endangered mammals in the world.

The marmot occupies its time digging burrows, underground tunnels and lounging on rocks in the sun in need of body heat while using larger boulders as lookouts to scan for approaching threats. The Vancouver Island marmot is a herbivore and feed on a wide variety of plants to eat. They are known to eat well over 50 different species of grasses and wild flowers.

The marmot colony is made up of one or more families headed by an adult male, maybe one or more adult females and a slew of young. During hibernation (from September through April), marmots are rummaging above ground for a few hours a day usually in the early morning and late afternoon. The rest of the day is spent in their burrows. Burrows provide shelter, warmth and a protection from predators like eagles, cougars and hawks.

British Columbia Wildlife
Moose

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Moose (Alces alces)

Found in southern British Columbia, the BC moose is such a massive animal. The moose is the largest of the deer family standing 5 – 7 feet tall possessing a keen sense of smell and hearing. They eat leaves, twigs and water plants usually in the early mornings and throughout the late evenings.
The moose spends the day hours usually in the shade “chewing their cud”. In the fall seasons the bull moose compete for the cows (female moose) using their antlers and sharp hooves.

Some of the fierces wildlife battles to witness is two moose bashing heads for love and passion. Moose are strong swimmers and often are found in swampy areas and large clearings always keeping an eye out for their natural enemies… wolves and bears.

British Columbia Wildlife
Mountain Goat

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Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

The British Columbia mountain goat from afar are a beautiful animal to observe looking all kingly covered in their white coats. They are mountain adventurers navigating mountain slopes high in the alpine regions of BC.

It is said, not really confirmed, the mountain goat hails from the Pleistocene Ice Age hence the white fur which assist the goat from detection in the harsh winter environments found in British Columbia.

BC, Canada is home to more than half of the world’s population. The mountain goat usually found in the rocky alpine areas high above the timberline throughout parts British Columbia's with a population of approximately 100,000.

The mountain goat's diet consists of alpine grasses and flowers and any tree or shrub surviving the harsh mountain climates. The rutting season (breeding) occurs between November and early January with the young, usually twins, is born in May or June.
The greatest cause of death for these mountain dwellers is the winter when the availability of food is scarce. But, sadly enough, the greatest harm to the mountain goat population is game hunting.

British Columbia Wildlife
Mule Deer

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Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

The mule deer is found in the mountains, foothills and parklands of British Columbia, Canada. A graceful creature with quick feet and accelleration.
The mule deer can run up to 35 miles an hour, can leap 4 foot fences and is a good swimmer. Some stories indicate that a deer can swim up to 14 miles, therefore able to swim from island to island on the west coast.

In the summer the mule deer grazes on the mountains in the alpine pastures and in the winter it tends to come down to lower elevations and lives off of twigs and woody browse. Winter is tough, as deer do not paw through snow, but look for wind swept areas that are cleared which attracts large numbers of mule deer in one area marking easy prey for wolves, cougars and bears.

British Columbia Wildlife
Otter

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Otter (Lutra canadensis)

The otter is located in most areas of British Columbia, Canada. The otter is very adapt to the water and is most comfortable in a marine environment. Its body is sleek with short legs, a long tail and webbed toes. Its ears and nose can be closed off when under water and is protected by the cold by the otter's layer of fat.
The otter can swim faster then most fish which makes it easier for it to catch its meal. On the menu for the otter is turtles, snakes, water fowl and muskrat.

The otter does not feel comfortable on land and spends as little time as possible out of the water because of the fear of attack by wolves and bears. In the water , the otter has nothing to fear in most cases. Otters are very playful with each other, sliding down mud slopes, popping up their heads beside paddling canoes.

British Columbia Wildlife
Porcupine

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Porcupine ( Erethizon dorsatum)

The BC porcupine is found in most forested regions in British Columbia. The porcupine spends the day resting on a tree limb out of sight. At night the porcupine forages for food. His favorite meals are twigs, bark, buds and leaves.

The animal is addicted to salt and will do anything to obtain it. We mean a real problem, like needing therapy. Take for example a porcupine will chew an axe handle for the salt left behind by the human hand.

Poor eyesight and slow movement are characteristics of the porcupine along with good hearing and smell. The sharp quills covering the body leave the animal with few natural enemies. In protection mode the animal will hide its head and swing its quill laden tail in the direction of the attacker. There are a reported 30,000 quills on a porcupine. The few enemies in the wilderness have learned to flip the animal over as there are no quills on the under-belly.

British Columbia Wildlife
Raccoon

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Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Found throughout British Columbia, the raccoon is a very curious and mischievous animal with a highly developed set of senses like hearing, eyesight and touch.

The raccoon is usually found near river banks and lakes searching for its favourite meal of frogs, crayfish, small fish, insects, turtles, mice and fruit.

Raccoons are extremely bright and have been know to raid garbage cans, open lids in their pursuit of a newly acquired taste… human food. one of their favourites is corn on the cob. Another favourite is your camp food, so store your food properly and securely when exploring nature while wilderness camping.

Rumour has it that raccoons like to wash their food. Not so. Because they have such sensitive forepaws and keen sense of touch that they enjoy inspecting the food by touching it and turning it over and over.

British Columbia Wildlife
Red Tailed Hawk

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Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

An amazing bird in flight capturing our breathes every time. The Red Tailed hawk is found in most parts of southern British Columbia. The hunter is a committed bird.

The hawk will mate for life use the same nest over and over again high up in one its favourite trees in its favourite location. A busy body bird, constant rebuilding and adding additions to the home over years. The nest can become as large as four feet wide and three feet deep. But no kitchen sink.

Each spring the female lays her eggs and during the incubation period the loving wife is catered hand and foot by a dedicated male. A partnership so not to leave the eggs unattended vulnerable to predators who are looking for an omelet.

The hawk feasts on mice, reptiles, insects and small birds. The British Columbia Red Tailed Hawk is blessed with superb eyesight for patrolling the skies. From high above , the hawk swoops down on its prey and scoops them up with its powerful razor like talons. Often the hunter and the hunted , will roll end over end for several feet on the ground until the hunted shows no life.

A benefit of keeping the same mate and location is the familiarity of the wilderness area. The hawk is habit-forming and therefore a predictable bird seemingly always returning to its favourite perches for scouting prey and analyzing the surrounding territory.