 Cruising aboard the classic yacht Taconite you will see many Orcas, up close as you t Whether you view the whales and bears from the deck of Taconite or hike the many natural trails, the Stuart Island region will provide all the wildlife adventure you want. Help your Taconite guides as they harvest clams, oysters, crabs, prawns and mussels and take them back aboard for gourmet seafood meal you will never forget. Don't forget your camera, because you'll not only see Orca whales, but also numerous eagles, deer, otters, osprey, seals and salmon runs. This is a Canadian ecotourism wilderness adventure that you'll never forget. Entering the 'great bear rainforest' aboard Taconite is an opportunity of a lifetime. Bute Inlet has the largest concentration of black bears in the world. At low tide, the bears visit the shoreline to feast upon the clams, barnacles and sea grass. Photography is splendid with close-ups from Taconite or one of her tenders can be as near as 10 feet away. The Phillips River is where you will see most of the grizzly bears. These huge bears feed upon the spawned out salmon along the river in the fall. While cruising the area aboard Taconite there is a good chance of running into porpoise or orcas. Cordero Channel and Johnstone Strait is home to one of the largest groups of orca whales in the world. The best time to view the whales is from July to September. Dall and Pacific White Side Porpoise are often spotted in groups of 10-50 and it is |
ravel. These resident whales are gentle, curious and playful creatures. Taconite will visit the famous "Rubbing Beach" at Robson's Bite to see the Orca whales scratching and playing together in the shallows near the beach. An encounter with the ghost white "Spirit Bear" of coastal British Columbia is an unforgettable, almost spiritual event. The Kermode phase, originating from a recessive gene combination, tends to be less concerned about human presence, and paddlers who encounter a Spirit Bear often get a good, long look. A First Nations (Canadian Coastal Aboriginal people) legend states that the Raven (creator of all living things), created the white bear as a reminder of the last ice age and decreed that these bears would live in harmony with people forever.
not uncommon for them to circle Taconite and ride the waves as you motor with them. The surrounding Stuart Island area is home to over 500 bald eagles. Eagles can form up in groups of over 300 flying above Taconite awaiting a daily run of herring.