Wildlife & Nature

Especially if you live inland, you're going to want to explore BC's underwater paradise in one way or another. The depths of the Pacific, the calm basins of inland lakes, and the creeks and rivers galore are all teeming with vibrant and mysterious life. Discovering new marine creatures can be as easy as taking a seaside stroll at low tide and peering into a few tidal pools. But taking it to a new level is just a request away, because experts and naturalists cover the province to teach you what they know. Step into a museum, hop onto a kayak or tour boat, or slip right beneath the surface in scuba or snorkelling gear, and get up close and personal with an underwater world of wonders. BC's waters are home to colourful sea urchins, massive Orcas, and more than can be imagined in between.

For a different angle on what's beneath the surface, join in on the world-class fishing opportunities that exist all over British Columbia. Salmon, sturgeon, and steelhead are just some of the species that fill our waters.

Even if you plan to stick to land, adventure awaits you. A long drive, a hike, or sometimes a walk through the city, can expose you to an exciting variety of BC fauna. Depending on the region, elk, moose, caribou, and bears can be seen from the highways. Bighorned Sheep and Mountain Goats can be spotted in the Rockies, and somewhere, in remote corners of the province, they say that Bison roam. Deer, on the other hand, have been known to stroll serenely down city streets—looking to munch on flower beds—so keep your eyes open for such surreal sightings.

One remarkable feature of dwelling in BC is that we share our home with two of North America's largest mammals: bears, and whales. These powerful and majestic animals intrigue us to no end, so fortunately for nature lovers, there are expert guides who know how to get us close and keep us safe. Whale watching and bear tours are unique highlights of any British Columbia vacation, and opportunities to participate are easy to find. Throughout Vancouver Island, and mainland BC, various companies offer tours of different lengths and focuses, depending on the location and season. Whale watching tours take place on specialized water crafts while bear watching tours can take place on water or land, and both are guided by seasoned naturalists. Go on a marine or land wildlife tour and you can go home with stories about the pod of Orca whales you followed through the Georgia Strait, or about how you came within 50 meters of a Grizzly bear hunting salmon. You should remember to take your camera, though, or your friends might not believe you.

If you're used to country camping, where setting up in the open and trying not to eavesdrop on your neighbours is considered time in "the great outdoors," then you need to try camping in BC. Here, you can pop your tent in the spaces between Douglas Firs, surrounded by lush greenery and filtered sunlight. You can hear the birds and rustling leaves sometimes better than you can hear your neighbours, and you can take in a therapeutic nature hike before lunch. And these are just the campsites with facilities. Just like everything else in this province, camping in BC can offer a series of diverse experiences. Whether you're bringing an RV motorhome or wanting to hike in with a pack, we have a province of places you'll want to wake up in. Sites will range from free and rustic to 45 dollars a night with a corner store and a swimming pool. Some of the best camping options are in our many provincial parks, where facilities are minimal, costs are affordable, and location is often as good as it gets. If you'd rather spend your nights between four walls, then come visit our parks by day. Explore the hiking trails, the waterfront, the riverside, or whatever the local park has to offer. Stanley Park awaits you in Vancouver, Beacon Hill Park is hiding in Victoria, and there are so many more just outside city limits. Even if it's just for an afternoon, prepare a picnic and go, because a visit to BC isn't complete until you've spent some time in the great outdoors.

A stroll among strong, healthy trees can be enough to calm and ground even the most wound-up person. And in BC, nearly 65 per cent of the land is covered with such trees. For some British Columbians, just walking to work can be an exquisite, tree-lined experience, but we still try to get out of the city when we can. Word is that the forestland within BC would cover the entire country of France and then some. That's 60 million hectares of forest in one province. This includes everything from boreal forest to temperate rainforest, but is largely made up of coniferous trees. The most phenomenal feature however might be the 25 million hectares of old growth trees in the region. We are privileged to have trees as ancient as 250 years old rooted in our soil. Among our old growth and second-growth forests are species such as Western Hemlock, Pacific Dogwood, Sitka Spruce, and Ponderosa Pine, creating canopies that are diverse in their shades, shapes, and aromas, not to mention their inhabitants. The official tree of BC is the immense Western Redcedar, and according to our First Nations peoples, this could also be referred to as the "Tree of Life." Need we say more?

Maybe you already consider yourself a birdwatcher, and you plan to arrive in British Columbia with field guide and binoculars in hand. There's not much to say to you except "Good choice" and "Enjoy." For those of you who aren't birdwatchers but just love to hear a common sparrow stuttering in the eaves, you might want to consider bringing a field guide to BC, too, because a bird watcher you might become.

The delightful reality is that the varied landscape that our coastal province boasts translates into a rich and diverse avian population, unlike any other in Canada. Not only is BC home to rainforest-dwelling birds, but it also attracts fowl who thrive in wetlands, who stick to seashores, who keep to rocky mountain crags, and so on. Every year, 300 species of birds breed within the borders of British Columbia. 65 of those species are specific to the west coast and breed nowhere else in Canada. Some of BC's birds, in fact, are difficult to find anywhere else on the entire planet. So as you can imagine, we feel quite lucky. When you decide that birdwatching in BC is the adventure for you, there are so many choices of ways to indulge. Feel free to sit in a city park with a palm full of seed, but keep in mind that there are guides all over waiting to help you expand your species list. From Vancouver Island to Whistler to the Shuswap region and everywhere in between, enthusiastic experts lead birdwatching tours year round. Join them during autumn migration, winter exploring, or for Bald Eagle spotting during the salmon run. As well, for a different take on the romance of bird life, have a look at the Bed & Breakfast options that exist especially for birders in BC. Set into ideal landscapes for birding such as near sanctuaries or parks, and sometimes adorned with inspiring avian-themed decor, these getaways can be the perfect place for a bird lover to rest their head after a rewarding day of looking skyward.