Know Before You Go
Haida Gwaii Black Bear | Haida Gwaii Wildlife Guide
The Haida Gwaii black bear (Ursus americanus carlottae) is the largest sub-species of black bear in the world, and it is only found in Haida Gwaii. Unlike mainland black bears which can appear in a variety of colors, the bears here are only found in the black phase with a tan muzzle and, sometimes, a v-shaped blaze on the chest. The most significant difference between these bears and other black bears is that their jaws, skull and molars have grown much larger to accommodate their habit of feeding on shelled creatures in the intertidal zone like barnacles and crabs.
In the fall, these bears focus their feeding on spawned-out salmon carcasses, gaining approximately 70% of their annual protein intake. This is also when they fulfill their role as keystone species in the ecosystem by transporting carcass into the forest where they become nutrients for the massive trees. This is a niche primarily filled by brown bears on the mainland, but brown bears disappeared from the islands of Haida Gwaii around 11,000 years ago.
Look for Bears on These British Columbia Trips
Haida Gwaii: Islands at the Edge of the World
Discover an archipelago of wonder off the coast of British Columbia—explore wild shorelines, ancient rainforest and 12,000 years of Haida culture on an intimate sailboat adventure in the marine wilderness.
Spirit Bears, Humpbacks & Wildlife of BC
Discover British Columbia at its wildest, in search of the elusive white Spirit Bear in the remote valleys of western Canada's Coast Range. Offshore, scout for humpback whales and orcas in emerald fjords.
