The Sea Wolves in the Great Bear Rainforest are both mysterious and majestic. Mother nature has given these wolves webbed paws allowing them to swim with ease and hunt in the ocean’s tidal pools. Their strength and agility allow them to swim great distances, which has been noted to be up to 13 km from the mainland to Vancouver Island.

Sometimes on our tours, we hear the wolves howling in the distance and their cries send chills down our backs. These are the sounds that echo off the mountains and across the beaches along the coastline of British Columbia. Could these be the elusive sea wolves?

When you join us on one of our packages, thinking you are alone on the water with just a fishing rod, you may look up to see movement only to find wolves swimming near the boat (Complete Coastal Rainforest or Authentic Fishing Adventures). They’re tricky to spot because they move stealthily in the water, their backs and bodies submerged with only their eyes, ears and snouts peeking above the surface.

Sea wolves have an extensive range, from southern Alaska all the way to the northern Washington islands. During your Adventica trip through the islands in Desolation Sound Treasures of the Discovery Islands, keep your eyes on the shoreline for these beauties.

Sea wolves also have a diverse diet. A recent study found that it can be up to 90% marine-based from kelp to fish to seals and otters and the occasional whale carcass that washes up on the beach. These carnivores can easily eat shellfish. Using their paws, they dig in the sand for clams, and use their powerful jaws to crack open the shells of clams, oysters, and mussels. The remainder of their diet is reserved for terrestrial food sources and are known to hunt moose, deer, and other red meat like their larger mainland counterparts.

Here is where we invite you to explore the Great Bear Rainforest. Join us this summer on one of
our tours and let’s look for these wolves together.

Photo Credits: Ian McAllister, Steve Woods (2), Klaus Pommerenke, Kyle Artelle