Fortress of the Grizzlies: The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary

David Allinson is the president of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Victoria, B.C.

In 1994, North America’s first grizzly bear sanctuary was officially
formed in the Khutzeymateen Valley on the north coast of British
Columbia. Covering some 45,000 hectares, this wilderness sanctuary is
regularly home to more than 50 adult grizzlies, but many more annually
visit the food-rich estuary and valley. Wakeman and Shymanski provide
wonderful insight and glimpses into the lives of individual bears in
this unique ecosystem where bears are free from hunting and human
interaction is limited. A special degree of trust, appreciation, and
mutual respect allows Wakeman to guide small groups to within 100 feet
of the bears.

In a chapter entitled “Bear Tales,” Wakeman shares some of his most
heart-stopping close encounters with the bears; we learn that an
understanding of body language may require turning one’s back on an
adult grizzly at 40 feet! It’s also interesting to read about the
10-year struggle to create the sanctuary, which now has one of the
world’s highest concentrations of grizzlies. Finally, Shymanski’s
excellent photos capture not only the Khutzeymateen bears, but also the
myriad of wildlife and scenery in this beautiful section of British
Columbia.