Fact Sheets & Video - Vancouver

One of the iconic images of the Canadian wilderness is a grizzly bear hunting salmon. At the end of every summer, the salmon return to the creeks and rivers of British Columbia to spawn. Luckily for the bears, the end of summer is when they start their winter feeding to survive hibernation. It's a feeding frenzy.

Here are a few fast facts about the area and its inhabitants:

* The Khutzeymateen (pronounced 'Koot-sa-ma-teen') area has long been an important hunting and fishing site.

* Khutzeymateen has often been called 'Garden of the Grizzlies'. * The park covers 450 square kms and the topography of this land and marine sanctuary is diverse, with rugged peaks towering to 2100 metres above a valley of wetlands, old growth temperate rainforests and a large estuary.

* Grizzly Bears reach weights of 180-680 kg. The male is on average 1.8 times as heavy as the female and stands about 7 feet tall.

* Being omnivores, Grizzlies feed on a variety of plants and berries including roots or sprouts and fungi, as well as insects and smaller mammals.

* In preparation for winter, bears will gain hundreds of kilograms of fat before going into a state of false hibernation. The grizzly bear will generally enter its den in October or November. During the next 5 to 6 months, the grizzly will get no water or nourishment of any kind but will use up its accumulated fat.

* Except for mating and caring for the young, grizzly bears primarily lead solitary lives, spending most of their time foraging, or looking for food.

* Brown bears can live up to 30 years in the wild, though 20 - 25 is normal.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Prince Rupert Grizzly Bear Watching Tour from $444 a person. Includes return flights and 2 hours grizzly spotting.

Price includes taxes Subject to fluctuation Conditions apply. Prices correct at 2/10/06.

4 day Wildlife Adventures of British Columbia from $1059 a person.

Price includes taxes Subject to fluctuation Conditions apply. Prices correct at 2/10/06.

Canada & Alaska Specialist Holidays - PH:1300 794 959

Air Canada return to Vancouver from $2387 ex Sydney.

Price includes taxes. Subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply. Prices correct at 2/9/06.

Air Canada - PH:1300 655 767

Connect to Prince Rupert from $480 return.

Price includes taxes. Subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply. Prices correct at 2/9/06.

Air Canada - PH: 1300 655 767