Great Bear Rainforest

🇨🇦 Canada

🐻 Witness the Rare White Spirit Bear
🌍 #171 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #23 in North America #20 in Temperate Forest
Canada, Canada 653 spp. recorded

The Great Bear Rainforest is a vast coastal wilderness stretching along the Pacific edge of British Columbia, featuring steep mountains, dense temperate rainforests, and winding fjords. Moss-draped trails weave through towering ancient cedars and spruce trees down to cold ocean waters.

53.272° N   130.668° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

American Black Bear ★
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

20–30% · Possible
Humpback Whale ★
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible
Killer Whale ★

Killer Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Orcinus orca

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Bald Eagle
LC

Bald Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

60–70% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

50–60% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

50–60% · Likely
Western Toad
LC

Western Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus boreas

40–50% · Likely
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

40–50% · Likely
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
LC

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile rufescens

40–50% · Likely
Glaucous-winged Gull
LC

Glaucous-winged Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus glaucescens

40–50% · Likely
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

40–50% · Likely
Golden-crowned Kinglet
LC

Golden-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus satrapa

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

American Black Bear ★
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely
Brown Bear ★
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

20–30% · Possible
Humpback Whale ★
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible
Killer Whale ★

Killer Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Orcinus orca

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

40–50% · Likely
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

40–50% · Likely
American Red Squirrel
LC Endemic

American Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

30–40% · Possible
Sea Otter
EN

Sea Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Enhydra lutris

30–40% · Possible
Northern Sea Lion
NT

Northern Sea Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eumetopias jubatus

20–30% · Possible
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

20–30% · Possible
Elk
LC

Elk

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Alces alces

10–20% · Possible
American Beaver
LC

American Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor canadensis

10–20% · Possible
Dall's Porpoise
LC

Dall's Porpoise

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phocoenoides dalli

10–20% · Possible
Red Deer
LC

Red Deer

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

10–20% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck
Gray Wolf
LC Endemic

Gray Wolf

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis lupus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Bald Eagle
LC

Bald Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

60–70% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

60–70% · Likely
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

50–60% · Likely
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

50–60% · Likely
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
LC

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile rufescens

40–50% · Likely
Glaucous-winged Gull
LC

Glaucous-winged Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus glaucescens

40–50% · Likely
Golden-crowned Kinglet
LC

Golden-crowned Kinglet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Regulus satrapa

30–40% · Possible
Steller's Jay
LC Endemic

Steller's Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta stelleri

30–40% · Possible
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

30–40% · Possible
Pacific Wren
LC

Pacific Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes pacificus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

20–30% · Possible
Northwestern Garter Snake
LC

Northwestern Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis ordinoides

10–20% · Possible
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
LC

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis elegans

10–20% · With luck
Northern Alligator Lizard
LC Endemic

Northern Alligator Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Elgaria coerulea

0–10% · With luck
Leatherback Sea Turtle
VU

Leatherback Sea Turtle

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data
Common Wall Lizard
LC

Common Wall Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Podarcis muralis

Insufficient data
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
VU

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caretta caretta

Insufficient data
Pond Slider
LC

Pond Slider

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachemys scripta

Insufficient data
Brown Anole
LC

Brown Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis sagrei

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Western Toad
LC

Western Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus boreas

40–50% · Likely
Pacific chorus frog

Pacific chorus frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris regilla

20–30% · Possible
Northern Red-legged Frog
LC

Northern Red-legged Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana aurora

20–30% · Possible
Rough-skinned Newt
LC

Rough-skinned Newt

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Taricha granulosa

20–30% · Possible
Northwestern Salamander
LC

Northwestern Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ambystoma gracile

10–20% · Possible
Columbia Spotted Frog
LC

Columbia Spotted Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana luteiventris

10–20% · Possible
Long-toed Salamander
LC Endemic

Long-toed Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ambystoma macrodactylum

10–20% · With luck
Wandering Salamander
LC

Wandering Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Aneides vagrans

10–20% · With luck
Western Red-backed Salamander
LC

Western Red-backed Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Plethodon vehiculum

0–10% · With luck
Wood Frog
LC

Wood Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates sylvaticus

0–10% · With luck
Coastal Tailed Frog
LC

Coastal Tailed Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ascaphus truei

0–10% · Rare
Ensatina
LC Endemic

Ensatina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ensatina eschscholtzii

<5% · Rare

Animal Events

🦌

Salmon Run and Bear Emergence

MayJun

Bears emerge from hibernation and frequent the lower estuaries and shorelines to feed on early seasonal growth and spawning fish.

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely
Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

20–30% · Possible
🦌

Autumn Salmon Spawning

SepOct

Millions of Pacific salmon return to the rainforest rivers, drawing high concentrations of coastal brown and black bears to riverbanks for the annual feast.

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

40–50% · Likely
Brown Bear
LC Endemic

Brown Bear

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ursus arctos

20–30% · Possible
🦌

Summer Marine Mammal Gathering

JulAug

Calm summer conditions bring peak activity for marine life, where humpback whales, killer whales, and harbor seals converge in the fjords to feed on dense schools of fish.

Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible
Killer Whale

Killer Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Orcinus orca

30–40% · Possible
Harbor Seal
LC

Harbor Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phoca vitulina

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
American Black Bear
10–20
10–20
10–20
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
0–10
Brown Bear
<5
<5
0–10
10–20
20–30
30–40
20–30
20–30
40–50
20–30
<5
<5
Humpback Whale
10–20
0–10
0–10
10–20
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
20–30
20–30
Killer Whale
10–20
10–20
20–30
10–20
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
10–20
American Crow
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
Bald Eagle
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
Common Raven
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
American Robin
10–20
10–20
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
20–30
20–30
Song Sparrow
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Dark-eyed Junco
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
Western Toad
0–10
0–10
10–20
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
30–40
10–20
0–10
Mule Deer
30–40
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
30–40
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
Glaucous-winged Gull
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
20–30
20–30
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
Harbor Seal
10–20
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
30–40
Golden-crowned Kinglet
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
Animal Events
🦌 Salmon Run and Bear Emergence
🦌 Summer Marine Mammal Gathering
🦌 Autumn Salmon Spawning

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐻 Witness the Rare White Spirit Bear

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
486
🐒 Mammals
136
🦎 Reptiles
13
🐸 Amphibians
18
653 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
45 Threatened 82 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
53%
📊
Coverage (156 species at ≥5% of 653 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 3 mammal, 1 amphibian)
47% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
103
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
13
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
12
⚖️

Great Bear Rainforest or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

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