Wildlife list

While grizzly bears are the animals that draw people to our remote valley, there are many other species to be seen as well. This list contains both species that have been observed (or heard) here and those that could possibly be seen here. If there is no entry for seasonal observations then that species has not been observed here during that season. Additionally some species such as the Myotis bats can not be identified to species while flying will have no occurrence entry even though they are commonly seen in the field. The observation codes relate to frequency of observation or hearing their calls, not their actual abundance. This is especially true for some of the smaller animals which are very abundant but rarely seen. Two additional observation codes, Marine and Alpine, are for species that haven’t been observed at the lodge but are observable in the greater area around us but outside of our tours.

Observation codes

Common = likely to see in proper habitat
Uncommon = possible to see in proper habitat but difficult
Rare = present but usually seen once to few times a season
Vagrant = seen once or twice over the years
Alpine = possible above treeline
Marine = occurs in waters around north end of Vancouver Island

Bird list

Common nameWinterSpringSummerAutumnScientific name
      
Greater White-fronted Goose Rare  Anser albifrons
Snow Goose Rare RareChen caerulescens
Brant    Branta bernicla
Cackling Goose   VagrantBranta hutchinsii
Canada GooseCommonCommonCommonCommonBranta canadensis
Trumpeter SwanCommonUncommon  Cygnus buccinator
Wood Duck  Rare Aix sponsa
GadwallUncommonUncommon UncommonAnas strepera
American WigeonCommonUncommon UncommonAnas americana
MallardCommonCommonUncommonCommonAnas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal UncommonUncommon Anas discors
Cinnamon Teal Vagrant  Anas cyanoptera
Northern Shoveler Uncommon UncommonAnas clypeata
Northern Pintail Rare RareAnas acuta
Green-winged TealUncommonUncommonRareUncommonAnas crecca
Canvasback    Aythya valisineria
Redhead    Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck RareRareRareAythya collaris
Greater Scaup RareRareRareAythya marila
Lesser Scaup RareRareRareAythya affinis
Harlequin Duck Rare  Histrionicus histrionicus
Surf Scoter RareRareRareMelanitta perspicillata
White-winged Scoter VagrantVagrant Melanitta fusca
Black Scoter RareRare Melanitta nigra
Long-tailed Duck Vagrant  Clangula hyemalis
BuffleheadCommonCommon CommonBucephala albeola
Common GoldeneyeRareRare RareBucephala clangula
Barrow's GoldeneyeCommonCommonRareCommonBucephala islandica
Hooded MerganserUncommonCommonRareUncommonLophodytes cucullatus
Common MerganserCommonCommonCommonCommonMergus merganser
Red-breasted MerganserRareUncommon RareMergus serrator
Ruffed GrouseUncommonCommonCommonCommonBonasa umbellus
White-tailed PtarmiganAlpineAlpineAlpineAlpineLagopus leucura
Dusky GrouseVagrantCommonUncommonVagrantDendragapus obscurus
Red-throated LoonVagrantUncommonUncommonVagrantGavia stellata
Pacific Loon VagrantVagrant Gavia pacifica
Common LoonUncommonUncommonUncommonUncommonGavia immer
Yellow-billed Loon Vagrant  Gavia adamsii
Pied-billed Grebe VagrantVagrant Podilymbus podiceps
Horned GrebeRareRare RarePodiceps auritus
Red-necked GrebeRareRare UncommonPodiceps grisegena
Eared Grebe    Podiceps nigricollis
Western GrebeRareUncommon UncommonAechmophorus occidentalis
Black-footed Albatross  MarineMarinePhoebastria nigripes
Northern Fulmar MarineMarineMarineFulmarus glacialis
Sooty Shearwater  MarineMarinePuffinus griseus
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel  MarineMarineOceanodroma furcata
Leach's Storm-Petrel  Vagrant & MarineMarineOceanodroma leucorhoa
Brandt's Cormorant    Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Double-crested CormorantRareRareRareRarePhalacrocorax auritus
Pelagic Cormorant MarineMarineMarinePhalacrocorax pelagicus
Great Blue HeronCommonUncommonUncommonCommonArdea herodias
Green Heron Vagrant  Butorides virescens
Cattle Egret   VagrantBubulcus ibis
Turkey Vulture    Cathartes aura
Osprey Rare RarePandion haliaetus
Bald EagleCommonCommonCommonCommonHaliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern Harrier RareRareRareCircus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned HawkUncommonUncommonRareUncommonAccipiter striatus
Northern Goshawk RareRareRareAccipiter gentilis
Red-tailed HawkRareRareRareRareButeo jamaicensis
Golden Eagle AlpineAlpineAlpineAquila chrysaetos
American Kestrel RareRareRareFalco sparverius
Merlin RareRareRareFalco columbarius
Gyrfalcon    Falco rusticolus
Peregrine Falcon Vagrant VagrantFalco peregrinus
Virginia Rail    Rallus limicola
Sora    Porzana carolina
American Coot Vagrant  Fulica americana
Sandhill Crane Vagrant  Grus canadensis
Black-bellied Plover Vagrant  Pluvialis squatarola
American Golden-Plover    Pluvialis dominica
Pacific Golden-Plover    Pluvialis fulva
Semipalmated Plover Vagrant  Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer Rare RareCharadrius vociferus
Black OystercatcherMarineMarineMarineMarineHaematopus bachmani
Spotted SandpiperRareCommonCommonUncommonActitis macularius
Wandering Tattler    Tringa incana
Greater Yellowlegs RareRare Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs    Tringa flavipes
Whimbrel    Numenius phaeopus
Ruddy Turnstone    Arenaria interpres
Black Turnstone RareRare Arenaria melanocephala
Surfbird    Aphriza virgata
Red Knot    Calidris canutus
Sanderling    Calidris alba
Semipalmated Sandpiper RareRare Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper RareRare Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper RareRare Calidris minutilla
Pectoral Sandpiper    Calidris melanotos
Rock Sandpiper    Calidris ptilocnemis
Dunlin Rare  Calidris alpina
Short-billed Dowitcher Vagrant  Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher Rare  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Common SnipeUncommonUncommon UncommonGallinago gallinago
Wilson's Phalarope RareRare Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked Phalarope  Rare Phalaropus lobatus
Bonaparte's Gull  UncommonUncommonChroicocephalus philadelphia
Mew GullUncommonCommonCommonCommonLarus canus
Ring-billed GullRareRareUncommonCommonLarus delawarensis
Western Gull   RareLarus occidentalis
California Gull  UncommonCommonLarus californicus
Herring Gull   UncommonLarus argentatus
Thayer's Gull   UncommonLarus thayeri
Glaucous-winged GullCommonUncommonUncommonCommonLarus glaucescens
Glaucous Gull    Larus hyperboreus
Caspian Tern    Hydroprogne caspia
Common Tern    Sterna hirundo
Arctic Tern  Vagrant Sterna paradisaea
Parasitic Jaeger Vagrant  Stercorarius parasiticus
Common MurreMarineMarineMarineMarineUria aalge
Pigeon GuillemotMarineMarineMarineMarineCepphus columba
Marbled MurreletCommonCommonCommonCommonBrachyramphus marmoratus
Cassin's Auklet MarineMarine Ptychoramphus aleuticus
Rhinoceros Auklet MarineMarineMarineCerorhinca monocerata
Horned Puffin MarineMarine Fratercula corniculata
Tufted Puffin MarineMarine Fratercula cirrhata
Rock Pigeon VagrantVagrant Columba livia
Band-tailed Pigeon UncommonCommon Patagioenas fasciata
Mourning Dove RareRare Zenaida macroura
Barn Owl Vagrant  Tyto alba
Western Screech-Owl   RareMegascops kennicottii
Great Horned Owl   VagrantBubo virginianus
Northern Pygmy-OwlRareRareRareRareGlaucidium gnoma
Barred OwlRareRareRareRareStrix varia
Northern Saw-whet Owl Vagrant  Aegolius acadicus
Black Swift RareRare Cypseloides niger
Vaux's Swift RareRare Chaetura vauxi
Rufous Hummingbird CommonCommon Selasphorus rufus
Belted KingfisherCommonCommonCommonCommonMegaceryle alcyon
Red-breasted Sapsucker CommonUncommon Sphyrapicus ruber
Downy Woodpecker    Picoides pubescens
Hairy WoodpeckerRareRareRareRarePicoides villosus
Northern Flicker VagrantVagrant Colaptes auratus
Pileated WoodpeckerRareRareRareRareDryocopus pileatus
Olive-sided Flycatcher RareRare Contopus cooperi
Western Wood-Pewee UncommonUncommon Contopus sordidulus
Alder Flycatcher    Empidonax alnorum
Willow Flycatcher    Empidonax traillii
Hammond's Flycatcher CommonCommon Empidonax hammondii
Pacific-slope Flycatcher CommonCommon Empidonax difficilis
Western Kingbird  Rare Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern Kingbird  Rare Tyrannus tyrannus
Northern ShrikeVagrant   Lanius excubitor
Hutton's Vireo    Vireo huttoni
Warbling Vireo CommonCommon Vireo gilvus
Red-eyed Vireo RareRare Vireo olivaceus
Gray Jay    Perisoreus canadensis
Steller's JayUncommonCommonCommonCommonCyanocitta stelleri
Northwestern CrowUncommonUncommonCommonCommonCorvus caurinus
Common RavenCommonCommonCommonCommonCorvus corax
Horned Lark    Eremophila alpestris
Tree Swallow CommonCommon Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow RareRare Tachycineta thalassina
Northern Rough-winged SwallowRareRare Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Cliff Swallow    Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn Swallow CommonCommon Hirundo rustica
Black-capped Chickadee    Poecile atricapillus
Chestnut-backed ChickadeeUncommonCommonUncommonCommonPoecile rufescens
Red-breasted Nuthatch  Vagrant Sitta canadensis
Brown Creeper    Certhia americana
Winter WrenCommonCommonCommonCommonTroglodytes troglodytes
American DipperCommonCommonCommonCommonCinclus mexicanus
Golden-crowned KingletRareUncommonRareRareRegulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned KingletRareCommonUncommonRareRegulus calendula
Mountain Bluebird VagrantVagrant Sialia currucoides
Swainson's Thrush CommonCommonUncommonCatharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush RareRare Catharus guttatus
American RobinRareCommonCommonCommonTurdus migratorius
Varied ThrushRareCommonCommonCommonIxoreus naevius
Gray Catbird    Dumetella carolinensis
European Starling  Rare Sturnus vulgaris
American Pipit Rare  Anthus rubescens
Cedar Waxwing  Common Bombycilla cedrorum
Orange-crowned Warbler UncommonUncommon Vermivora celata
Yellow Warbler CommonCommon Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped Warbler CommonCommonUncommonDendroica coronata
Black-throated Gray Warbler    Dendroica nigrescens
Townsend's Warbler CommonUncommon Dendroica townsendi
American Redstart VagrantVagrant Setophaga ruticilla
MacGillivray's Warbler CommonUncommon Oporornis tolmiei
Common Yellowthroat UncommonUncommon Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's Warbler CommonUncommon Wilsonia pusilla
Western Tanager CommonCommon Piranga ludoviciana
Lazuli Bunting Vagrant  Passerina amoena
American Tree Sparrow    Spizella arborea
Chipping Sparrow    Spizella passerina
Savannah Sparrow CommonCommon Passerculus sandwichensis
Fox Sparrow Rare RarePasserella iliaca
Song Sparrow CommonCommonUncommonMelospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow   RareMelospiza lincolnii
White-crowned Sparrow Rare  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned Sparrow Rare  Zonotrichia atricapilla
Dark-eyed Junco CommonRareCommonJunco hyemalis
Black-headed Grosbeak  Vagrant Pheucticus melanocephalus
Western Meadowlark   VagrantSturnella neglecta
Red-winged Blackbird RareRare Agelaius phoeniceus
Brewer's Blackbird RareRare Euphagus cyanocephalus
Brown-headed Cowbird UncommonUncommon Molothrus ater
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch AlpineAlpine Leucosticte tephrocotis
Pine Grosbeak VagrantVagrant Pinicola enucleator
Purple Finch    Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch    Carpodacus mexicanus
Red CrossbillUncommon  RareLoxia curvirostra
White-winged Crossbill    Loxia leucoptera
Common Redpoll    Carduelis flammea
Pine Siskin RareRareUncommonCarduelis pinus
American Goldfinch    Carduelis tristis
Evening Grosbeak    Coccothraustes vespertinus
House Sparrow  Vagrant Passer domesticus

Mammal list

Common nameWinterSpringSummerAutumnScientific name
      
Humpback Whale VagrantRareRareMegaptera novaeangliae
OrcaVagrant   Orcinus orca
Pacific White-sided DolphinRareVagrant RareLagenorhynchus obliquidens
Black-tailed DeerUncommonUncommonUncommonUncommonOdocoileus hemionus columbianus
Northern Sea-lionRareRareRareRareEumetopias jubatus
Harbour SealCommonCommonCommonCommonPhoca vitulina
Grizzly BearVagrantCommonCommonCommonUrsus arctos
Black Bear CommonUncommonUncommonUrsus americanus
Grey WolfRareRareRareRareCanis lupis
Mountain LionVagrant VagrantVagrantPuma concolor
Wolverine  Vagrant Gulo gulo
Northern River OtterCommonUncommonUncommonUncommonLontra canadensis
Fisher    Martes pennanti
American MartenCommonUncommonUncommonUncommonMartes americana
American MinkUncommonCommonCommonUncommonMustela vison
Short-tailed weaselRare   Mustela erminea
Common Raccon    Pryocon lotor
Common Porcupine  Vagrant Erethizon dorsatum
American Beaver VagrantVagrantVagrantCastor canadensis
Douglas's SquirrelUncommonUncommonUncommonUncommonTamiasciurus douglasii
Northern Flying SquirrelRareRareRareRareGlaucomys sabrinus
Hoary Marmot Vagrant Marmota caligata
American Pika AlpineAlpine Ochotona princeps
Bushy-tailed Woodrat    Neotoma cinerea
Keen's MouseUncommonUncommonUncommonUncommonPeromyscus keeni
Western Jumping Mouse    Zapus princeps
Southern Red-backed Vole RareRareRareClethrionomys gapperi
Long-tailed Vole    Microtus longicaudus
Northern Bog Lemming    Synaptomys borealis
Western Long-eared Bat    Myotis ecotis
Keen's Long-eared Bat    Myotis keenii
California Bat    Myotis californicus
Little Brown Bat Common Common RareMyotis lucifugus
Yuma Bat    Myotis yumanensis
Silver-haired Bat    Lasionycteris noctivagans
Big Brown Bat    Eptesicus fuscus
Masked Shrew    Sorex cinereus
Dusky Shrew    Sorex monticolus
Common Water Shrew  Vagrant Sorex palustris

Amphibian and reptile list

Common nameWinterSpringSummerAutumnScientific name
     
Northwestern Salamander CommonCommon Ambystoma gracile
Long-toed Salamander Rare  Ambystoma macrodactylum
Rough-skinned Newt RareRare Taricha granulosa
Ensatina    Ensatina eschscholtzii
Coastal Tailed Frog UncommonUncommon Ascaphus truei
Western Toad UncommonUncommonCommonBufo boreas
Red-legged Frog    Rana aurora
Common Garter Snake    Thamnophis sirtalis
Northwestern Garter Snake    Thamnophis ordinoides
Western Garter Snake    Thamnophis elegans