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Tim IrvinTim Irvin

Tim Irvin

Ecologist & Guide

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    • Spirit Bear Tours
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Tim IrvinTim Irvin
Tim Irvin
Ecologist & Guide
Spirit bear on a mossy log in the rainforest.

Ecologist and wildlife guide

I am a naturalist first.

I explore nature and promote wildlife conservation through research, photography, writing, and wilderness expeditions.

I am also a guide and the Director of Wildlife Journeys, a small wildlife tour company that leads trips focussing on wolves, spirit bears, grizzlies, and more in the Great Bear Rainforest.

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If you love wildlife and wild places, then I have the email newsletter you’ve been waiting for. In each issue, I curate a selection of stories, images, and videos from the wild to inject a little wonder into your day to leave you feeling good about this beautiful planet.

Tours and Expeditions

Spirit bears

A spirit bear on a rocky stream, with a fish in its mouth.

During these tours, we explore lush river valleys in search of spirit, or Kermode, bears in a place that National Geographic has called the “Wildest Place in North America.” Travelling with Marven Robinson of the Gitga’at First Nation, we will spend all of our time in the very heart of spirit bear territory seeking out these extraordinary and rare white bears.

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Coastal wolves

A wolf laying on the beach in front of the ocean.

In a world dominated by human landscapes, the wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest is a refuge for wildlife, including the wolf. In the words of eminent scientist Dr. Paul Paquet, “the remote ocean archipelago of the Great Bear Rainforest comprises North America’s most unusual and one of its most pristine wolf populations.”  In this expedition-style trip we offer the extraordinary opportunity to photograph these wild coastal wolves.

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West coast herring expeditions

A wolf standing on a sandy beach by the ocean.

The spring herring spawn is one of nature’s great wildlife spectacles. It may be less known that the annual salmon runs the west coast is famous for, but it attracts a profusion of marine and terrestrial predators alike. We are offering the only multi-day tour of this remarkable event on the remote west coast of Vancouver Island. This is the perfect way to shake off the winter cobwebs by immersing yourself in some of Mother Nature’s finest work.

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Coastal Grizzly Bears

Grizzly bear in the an estuary in the Great Bear Rainforest

The Kutzeymateen is home to one of the most dense populations of grizzly bears in North America and is the very best place in Canada for springtime grizzly bear viewing and photography.  During this tour, we will stay in a quaint floating lodge situated in a beautiful fjord. Just spending time in this place is worth the trip. The scenery is spectacular, the food is delicious and the photography opportunities are endless

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Post List #1

PhotographyWriting

In this issue of Photo Life magazine: Seeking Nature in Nunavut

ByTim IrvinFeb 5, 20121 min read
In this issue of Photo Life magazine: Seeking Nature in Nunavut
I have a feature story in the February/March 2012 issue of Photo Life magazine. This is the second story I’ve published that sprouted from a seven-week solo canoe trip in Nunavut.
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ConservationOutdoor Adventure

WWF, the Great Bear Sea and the Northern Gateway Pipeline.

ByTim IrvinJan 10, 20122 min read
WWF, the Great Bear Sea and the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
Last fall staff and supporters of the World Wildlife Fund traveled to British Columbia to explore the central coast aboard the Island Roamer, and I was fortunate enough to be their guide. With the Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal looming over the coast, it is an important time to draw attention to this unique and spectacular place. WWF tries to do just that in this video, referring to this region as the Great Bear Sea…
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Outdoor AdventurePhotography

Shocking, white and wondrous

ByTim IrvinDec 19, 20111 min read
Lusk falls in winter in Gatineau Park, Quebec
Many of us in Ottawa are getting edgy, hoping we’ll get snow soon. Without it, I daresay, there will be little to do this winter for those of us who spend our time on the ski trails of Gatineau park, skating on the Rideau canal, kite skiing or playing outdoor hockey. Winter without snow around here would be tiresome in the extreme. So, I went hiking yesterday reluctantly, but discovered something surprising…
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Natural History

Wondrous, whimsical and inconceivable words for wildlife

ByTim IrvinDec 1, 20113 min read
Wondrous, whimsical and inconceivable words for wildlife
A leap of leopards. A prickle of porcupines. A romp of otters, an exaltation of larks. These terms are not typically very practical, yet the collective nouns used for animals are fanciful. And fanciful is good. Not typically very practical, yet the collective nouns used for animals are decidedly fanciful. And fanciful is good. So are beautiful videos…
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Outdoor AdventurePhotography

New Gallery – Coulonge River, Quebec.

ByTim IrvinOct 31, 20111 min read
Wilderness canoeing in Quebec
I am finally getting around to updating this website, including the addition of new galleries, starting with this one…
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Photography

Captive wildlife and Canadian Geographic’s Best Wildlife Photos 2012.

ByTim IrvinOct 17, 20113 min read
Canadian Geographic Best Wildlife Photos 2012
For twelve bucks you too can have a copy of this Collector’s Edition. It is a wonderful compilation of Canadian wildlife images, spanning a breadth of beasties from the creepy and crawly, to feathery, furry and toothy. However, you’ll also find photos of captive wildlife in the issue, including the cover shot…
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Recent articles

  • The Wild Life of Spirit Bears
  • Grizzly dreams
  • Coastal Ghosts
  • Spirit bear enigma
  • Spirit bear guide, Marven Robinson, on CBC Radio

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