‘Pretty cool to see’: Vancouver Island photographer records grizzly bear cubs play-fighting

Callie Boyle recorded video of two grizzly bear cubs play-fighting on northern Vancouver Island last weekend.

Vancouver Island does not have a resident grizzly bear population, which makes what Callie Boyle caught on camera last Sunday all the more special.

While driving some forestry roads north of Campbell River, Boyle and her companions came across another vehicle that had stopped, its occupants gazing out across an estuary in wonder.

“We thought it was the elk, because there’s a lot of elk in that area,” Boyle said. “They said it definitely wasn’t.”

It was three grizzly bears – a mother and two cubs. After a stroll along the estuary, the mother disappeared behind a large tree, while the cubs started playing.

“They were, like, tackling each other in the grass and just play-wrestling while she was taking a nap, I guess,” Boyle said.

Play time went on for 10 to 15 minutes, during which time Boyle got out her camera and recorded some of the fight.

“It was pretty cool to see,” she said. “We’ve done a couple grizzly tours and never seen anything like that. It was just so sweet to see them just have so much fun.”

Once the young grizzlies had tired themselves out, their mother rejoined them and the trio disappeared into the woods.

While grizzly bears do not live year-round on Vancouver Island, the animals are strong swimmers and have been known to visit the North Island from time to time.

The human observers were a safe distance away from the bears at all times, Boyle said.

“They didn’t even realize we were there,” she said. “They were just in their own little world.”