GRIZZLY HUNTING WITH A CAMERA

Bears, bald eagles and beautiful scenery made this an excursion to remember

- John Chalmers

Thousands of years ago, grizzly bears ranged across western North America from Mexico to Alaska. Today, there are no grizzly bears in Mexico. In the continental lower 48 United States, grizzlies are scarce, with an estimated 1,500 remaining close to the Canadian border, protected in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and Washington. Far more grizzlies live in Canada, but more than half the estimated grizzly population in North America lives in Alaska.

Last year, I took a one-day trip with Classic Canadian Tours to see Canadian grizzly bears. Along with 99 other passengers on a chartered Canadian North aircraft, we flew from Edmonton to Prince Rupert, B.C.

During the flight, naturalist Les Stegenga gave an informative talk to prepare us for the trip. He has studied grizzlies and polar bears in Canada, and wildlife in Africa and China, as well as working as a senior keeper at the Calgary Zoo.