The end of summer is the time for brown bear watching in British Columbia.
From mid-September and into October, the Chilko River hosts one of the region's most dramatic salmon runs that in turn attracts the bears who wander in to dine on the spawning Sockeye.
Images by Murray O'Neill
The Chilko Lake grizzly bear is a large subspecies of the North American Brown Bear and up to 100 come to this area.
The bears concentrate on a three-mile river segment beginning at the river's mouth and extending downstream, where in some years the salmon numbers exceed one million.
The result is that the Chilko River has some of the finest bear viewing in North America.
The reason for this concentration is that the river is located deep within the BC interior and is the only salmon-feeding option for bears within a 200-mile radius.
Proprietors and owners of The Chilko Experience, Phil and Anne Huston, arrange trips here with most viewing then done by low-draft river boats with experienced guides who know to stay at least 50 meters away from the bears in order not to stress them.
Of particular interest are the mother bears and cubs, with two cubs common but families of three are also seen.
While the bear get to feast, fishing for salmon on the Chilko River is restricted to all but those of First Nations decent.
Twelve guests a week (are able to lodge on the estate in the six custom log and timber frame homes.
Most guests access the Chilko via private charter flights originating in Vancouver, BC.