Pacific Rim Guide — The best of Tofino, Ucluelet and the Pacific Rim

Black Bear
Ursus americanus

Black bears in western regions are actually more cinnamon-brown than black. They weigh-in up to 900 lbs. and have longer ears and smaller shoulder humps than grizzlies. Black bears are solitary animals; males and females only come in contact with each other to breed. However, when an abundant food source is found, black bears will congregate and form a social hierarchy that can include other species of animal.

Killer Whale
Orcinus orca

Killer whales are social animals living in pods of four to 40 from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Each pod has a unique system of calls that help them distinguish each other from many miles away.

Killer whales are top predators in the ocean. They require up to 5% off their body weight in food each day and an abundant and reliable food source is essential. By hunting with their pod, killer whales are able to catch fish, seals, dolphins and even mammoth blue whales.

Steller Sea Lion
Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lions are the largest member of the seal family and are distinguished by their long flippers and yellowish colour. Starting off life as pups weighing around 40 lbs, they put on mass quickly and weigh an average 600 lbs for females and 1,200 lbs for males.

California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus

Steller and California sea lions often live in the same areas. California sea lions can be distinguished by their smaller size and darker fur, as well as by their sound; California sea lions make barking noises, whereas steller sea lions growl.

Grey Whale
Eschrichtius robustus

Each year, thousands of grey whales migrate over 20,000 km from the Beaufort Sea to the Baja Peninsula. This spectacular sight can be seen all along the coast line and is one of nature’s most impressive shows.

Grey whales feed on a diet of bottom-dwelling molluscs. To feed, a grey whale swims to the sea floor, turns sideways and pushes its head through the top-layer of sediment, filtering food.

Humpback Whale
Megaptera novæanglia

Humpbacks are distinguished by extremely long flippers (up to a third of their body length), butterfly-shaped tail flukes and the small dorsal fin. The colouration on their tale flukes is unique to each whale. They can weigh up 36 tonnes (80,000 lbs) and, unusually for mammals, females are larger than males.

The name “humpback” comes from the high arch of their backs while diving.

American Mink
Mustela vison

Mink are members of the same animal family as weasels, wolverines and polecats, and are distinguished by their long bodies, short legs and pointy faces.

Mink spend their days in forested areas near rivers or the sea shore. They are solitary animals and males are very territorial. A mink’s territory is established using visual, auditory and, especially, chemical signals.

Vancouver Island Wolf
Canis lupus crassodon

The Vancouver Island wolf is a sub-species of the grey wolf. They are highly social animals, living in packs of five to 35 wolves. Life in the wolf pack is dominated by rank and being near the top means eating first and the first choice of mate. The Vancouver Island wolf is an endangered species; moreover, it is very shy. You are much more likely to hear them howling in the still West Coast night than to see one in person.

River Otter
Lontra canadensis

River otters are solitary animals that spend their lives roaming vast waterways in search of food. When they are still young, river otters spend their days diving, burrowing, sliding and throwing mud at each other. These play games help the young otters gain motor skills and dexterity. By the time they are adults, river otters can run up to 30 km/h on land and stay underwater for up to eight minutes.

Sea Otter
Enhydra lutris kenyoni

Sea otters are very rare in the Pacific Rim. Their pelts were once worth over $1,000 each and the fur trade wreaked havoc on their population. They spend much of their day foraging in kelp beds, cracking mollusc shells open using a rock or other tool, and will often wash their food before eating it. At night, they secure themselves by wrapping their bodies in kelp and sleep floating on their backs.