The pristine, ecologically significant Great Bear Rainforest on Canada's northwest coast is home to some of our country's most revered species of wildlife including the grizzly bear, bald eagle, and the elusive coastal wolf- a seldom seen subspecies of wolf that survives on a marine diet of salmon and barnacles. But perhaps the most unique wildlife experience in the Great Bear Rainforest is a wonderfully rare sighting of a 'spirit bear', or 'kermode bear'. These bears are actually black bears with a rare gene that gives them their white colour. Spirit bears exist only in a small geographical region of the Great Bear Rainforest. My husband Rob and I were fortunate enough to be with a small group of like-minded people aboard the 'Ocean Light II' vessel, guided by the legendary photographer/ adventure guide Mike Beedell. Sailing through the Great Bear Rainforest and photographing the spectacular wildlife was truly one of the most incredible adventures of my life.
