Five tips for successful wildlife viewing

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

family

 
killer whales
 
Stellar sea lions
 
black-tailed deer
 
sea stars
 
viewscope
 
Parks Canada interpretation program
 
Black oystercatcher

Pinch me—this can’t be real!

Imagine sitting quietly on the shore when out of the water pops the head of a seal pup. It looks directly at you with its large round eyes.

It’s easy to make memories like this in the park. All you have to do is follow a few simple tips. We invite you to explore on your own or hire a guide for an eco-tour.

Tip 1: Choose the right location.
  • Black-tailed deer: Deer can be found almost everywhere in the park, except for on a few of the smaller islands.
  • Killer Whales: Want to see seals, sea lions, porpoises and Killer Whales? Head to East Point on Saturna Island, a great spot for watching marine mammals from shore.
  • Seabirds: Explore two Important Bird Areas, the lagoon on Sidney Island and the waters off Georgina Point on Mayne Island.

Learn more:  Hiking Guide 

Tip 2: Choose the right season.

Spring:

  • Purple martins at Sidney Spit dock
  • Southern resident Killer Whales in all park waters
  • Frogs at fresh water lakes on Pender Island (Go at dusk to hear them croaking.)

Summer:

  • Southern resident Killer Whales in all park waters
  • Harbour seal pups at East Point, Saturna Island (Keep away from the pups on shore. The mother seals are off fishing and will be back soon.)
  • Bioluminescence in all park waters (Plankton makes the ocean sparkle at night!)

Fall and winter:

  • Brandt’s cormorants at Sidney Island (fall only)
  • Steller sea lions at East Point, Saturna Island
Tip 3: Choose the right time and tide.
  • Dawn and dusk: Get up early in the spring to hear songbirds in the park. Deer browse on the roadsides at dawn and dusk, year-round.
  • Afternoon: Seals and sea lions like to climb onto small reefs and islets in the middle of the day to sleep.
  • Night: Go out at night to spot owls, bats and racoons.
  • Low tide: Explore the beaches at a low tide to find sea stars and sea cucumbers.
Tip 4: Be a detective.
  • Use your powers of observation: Listen for animal calls. Look for evidence they’ve left behind: scat, tracks and dinner scraps. When you do spot wildlife, sit quietly and observe.
  • Bring the right gear: A good pair of binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens will bring you up close and personal without disturbing wildlife.

Learn more: Participate in a park interpretation program.

Tip 5: Respect the wildlife.

View all wildlife from a safe distance:

  • If you’re affecting an animal’s behaviour, then you’re too close.
  • It is illegal to entice, approach, feed, disturb, possess or remove wildlife from the park.
  • If you see tail, fin or spray – stay far enough away.
    • Stay 400 metres away from killer whales in all southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet, which includes Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
    • Stay 200 metres away from killer whales in all other parts of Canadian Pacific waters.
    • Stay 100 metres away from all other whales, dolphins and porpoises (unless they are resting or with a calf, then keep 200m away)

Keep yourself and your pets safe:

Wildlife may be frightened and act unpredictably. You don’t want to get bitten and maybe catch a disease. Never approach animals and always keep your dog on a leash.

   

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