Bear viewing in BC is one of those rare experiences where you’re able to view the wild side of nature with the safety of a guide. What you need to know: there are black bears, grizzly bears, and the rare Kermode, or Spirit Bear, which live almost exclusively in the Great Bear Rainforest. AdvertisementFor the bears you will actually see: Vancouver Island is black bear territory, with an estimated 7,000 to 12,000 calling the Island home. Bear viewing as an industry grew alongside that shift, formalizing in 2001 when Dean Wyatt of Knight Inlet Lodge founded the Commercial Bear Viewing Association with five operators. There are three hotspots for bear viewing: Tofino, Campbell River, and Vancouver Island North.