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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

Writing

Malcolm Gladwell writes brilliant books, runs fast and he just might be a nice guy too.

ByTim IrvinAug 25, 20112 min read
Malcolm Gladwell writes brilliant books, runs fast and he just might be a nice guy too.
I was working on a story recently about the explosion in running’s popularity in the past 30 years. The participation in running events in Canada and beyond is soaring. For example, the number of people running in the Ottawa Race Weekend increased by a whopping 337% between 2000 and 2010. Many races across North America are selling out months in advance of race day. You might say that running has hit a Tipping Point…
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ConservationPhotography

Spoil this?: Enbridge, oil and the Great Bear Rainforest.

ByTim IrvinJul 27, 20112 min read
Cover image for youtube video on the Great Bear Rainforest
Since the Queen of the North sank on the central coast of BC in March of 2006 people have been nervous. The ship’s massive hulk is now 1500 feet underwater, still leaking diesel into coastal waters. With that tragedy fresh in people’s mind, the looming threat of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline Project has people on edge…
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Outdoor AdventureWriting

And the winner of the 2011 Great Northern Canada Writing Contest is…well, me.

ByTim IrvinJul 11, 20111 min read
Tim Irvin in the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nunavut
Ah shucks. My story, Nowhere but North: a Case for Cornbread and Wolverines, took first prize in this years’ contest, hosted by the Northwords Writing Festival. The story was inspired by a fierce appetite and some unexpected events during a seven-week solo canoe trip in Nunavut…
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ConservationOutdoor AdventurePhotography

The faces of climate chage: National Geographic photographer, Paul Nicklin, on TED

ByTim IrvinJun 11, 20111 min read
Paul Nicklen tells us about seals at TED
Paul Nicklin shows off some of his impressive body of work, the unique challenges he faces and why he is obsessed by telling stories from the poles. Watch his TED talk…
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ConservationNatural HistoryPhotography

Lake Huron sunsets: a nice job perk.

ByTim IrvinJun 11, 20111 min read
Lake Huron sunsets: a nice job perk.
One reason I have not been posting much on this blog lately is that I’ve had sporadic internet access while working in the field doing bird and amphibian surveys. It has been a while since I’ve done some good old fashioned biology fieldwork and it is darn nice to be spending my days outdoors, away from my keyboard. Even nicer on evenings when I get sit on a beach and eat dinner while the sun sets over Lake Huron…
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Writing

Colin Harris story on the cover of iRun magazine.

ByTim IrvinJun 11, 20111 min read
Colin Harris in iRun magazine
Colin Harris is the cover-boy in the current issue of iRun magazine. Written by yours truly, I hope this story helps to spread Colin’s important message across Canada. Read on to find a link to the story…
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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

© 2026 Tim Irvin 
Site supported by Pink Sheep Media.

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