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A white spirit bear in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia
Photo: Maximilian Helm from Dresden, Deutschland, CC BY 2.0

Region · Canada

British Columbia Wildlife Checklist

British Columbia is Canada's most wildlife-rich province, from grizzlies at coastal salmon rivers to orcas in the Salish Sea and mountain goats in the Rockies. This checklist covers 104 animals, including the white spirit bear of the Great Bear Rainforest. Summer is best for whales, and September and October for bears at the salmon runs.

This page covers the whole province. For the coast in more detail, see the Vancouver Island and Pacific Rim checklists; for the mountains, see Banff and Jasper next door in Alberta.

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The British Columbia checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
104
Where
Canada
Best time
May to Oct
Spirit bears
Great Bear Rainforest

British Columbia's headline animals

  • Grizzly Bear, one of the animals to look for in British Columbia

    Grizzly Bear

    The best viewing is from boats and platforms on the coast: Knight Inlet from spring to autumn, the Khutzeymateen sanctuary near Prince Rupert from May to July, and Great Bear Rainforest rivers in September and October.

    Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0

  • Black Bear, one of the animals to look for in British Columbia

    Black Bear

    Common across BC. On Princess Royal and Gribbell islands, some carry a gene that turns their fur white: the Kermode or spirit bear.

    Photo: Buiobuione, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Orca, one of the animals to look for in British Columbia

    Orca

    Resident orcas eat salmon and Bigg's orcas hunt mammals. Try Johnstone Strait in summer and the Salish Sea around Victoria from May to October.

    Photo: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Humpback Whale

    Common again along the whole coast from spring to autumn, including in the Salish Sea.

  • Mountain Goat

    White goats on cliffs in the Rockies and the Coast Mountains. Scan high ledges with binoculars; they often look like patches of snow.

  • Bighorn Sheep

    Rams often walk the streets of Radium Hot Springs, and herds graze the dry valleys of the Okanagan and the East Kootenay.

  • Moose

    Common in northern and interior forests. Drive the Alaska Highway or the Cariboo wetlands at dawn.

  • Sea Otter

    Reintroduced around 1970, they now thrive along the west coast of Vancouver Island and the central coast.

  • Bald Eagle

    Large numbers gather at Brackendale near Squamish in December and January to feed on spawned-out salmon.

  • Sockeye Salmon

    The Adams River run near Salmon Arm turns the river red in October, with the biggest runs every fourth year (2026 is one).

All 104 animals to spot in British Columbia

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Bears and big mammals 11

Hunters 11

Small mammals 11

Whales and sea mammals 12

Birds of prey 10

Seabirds and water birds 15

Land birds 14

Reptiles and amphibians 8

Fish 7

Sea life 5

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in British Columbia

British Columbia is big enough that something is in season every month. May and June are good for grizzlies feeding on sedges in coastal inlets and the Khutzeymateen, for bears on interior roadsides, and for newborn animals in the mountains. July and August are whale months, with humpbacks and orcas along the coast, and alpine meadows full of marmots and pikas. September and October are the highlight for many visitors: grizzlies, black bears and spirit bears fish the salmon rivers, and the elk rut begins in the mountains. From December to February bald eagles gather at salmon rivers such as the Squamish, and sea ducks fill the coast.

  • May-JunGrizzlies on coastal sedge flats
  • Jul-AugWhales, alpine meadows
  • Sep-OctSalmon runs, bears, elk rut
  • Dec-FebEagles at Brackendale

Tips for spotting wildlife in British Columbia

  1. Pick one region per trip

    BC is almost four times the size of the UK. Choose the coast for whales and bears, or the interior and Rockies for goats, sheep and moose, rather than trying to do both in a week.

  2. Book First Nations-led trips early

    Much of the best bear viewing, including the spirit bear areas around Klemtu and Hartley Bay, is on First Nations territory with Indigenous-owned lodges and guides. September places go fast.

  3. Drive the Alaska Highway slowly

    In northern BC, Stone's sheep, wood bison, black bears and moose often feed on the verges, especially around Muncho Lake and Liard River. Pull right off before you stop.

  4. Follow the salmon in autumn

    In October, salmon runs at the Adams River near Salmon Arm and Goldstream near Victoria draw bears and eagles. In a big run year the rivers turn red.

  5. Be bear safe

    Carry bear spray in the backcountry, make noise on trails and store food properly. Keep 100 m from bears and never approach a mother with cubs.

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The British Columbia checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

British Columbia wildlife FAQ

What animals can you see in British Columbia?

British Columbia has grizzly and black bears, orcas, humpback whales, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, wolves and cougars, plus sea otters and sea lions on the coast. Birds include bald eagles, tufted puffins and the Steller's jay, BC's provincial bird. Rarer finds include wolverine, lynx and the white spirit bear.

Where can you see a spirit bear?

Spirit bears live in the Great Bear Rainforest on BC's central coast, mainly on Princess Royal and Gribbell islands. They are black bears with a gene that makes their fur white. The best chance is a guided trip with a First Nations-run lodge, such as at Klemtu, in September and early October, when bears fish the salmon streams.

When is the best time to see grizzly bears in BC?

The best times to see grizzly bears in BC are May to June and September to October. In spring, bears graze sedge flats at the heads of coastal inlets such as Knight Inlet and the Khutzeymateen. In autumn they gather at salmon rivers. Tours run from Campbell River, Telegraph Cove, Prince Rupert and the central coast.

Where can you see orcas in BC?

The most reliable places to see orcas in BC are Johnstone Strait near Telegraph Cove from July to September, and the Salish Sea around Victoria from May to October. Bigg's orcas, which hunt seals, can appear anywhere on the coast in any month. Boats must stay 200 m away, or 400 m in southern BC waters.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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