'Sit there and wait': Campbell River filmmaker captures black bear hunting salmon
CTV
An abundance of salmon that are returning to spawn along Vancouver Island rivers are attracting wildlife, members of the public and photographers who are arriving to record the spectacle. One such individual is Campbell River, B.C., filmmaker Eiko Jones who was attempting to record salmon spawning but instead captured incredible video of black bears trying to eat the salmon.
One such individual is Campbell River, B.C., filmmaker Eiko Jones who was attempting to record salmon spawning but instead captured incredible video of black bears trying to eat the salmon.
"I've filmed lots of spawning events in the past and I was trying to get the actual moment of egg-laying and noticed a particular bear coming to the exact spot every time," Jones told CTV News on Monday.
He figured if he put his underwater camera in that location he might be able to capture something special – and he did. A bear was filmed repeatedly pouncing on salmon trying to get a meal.
"It would always just sit there and wait and then when a Chinook, or bigger Coho came by – and occasionally pinks – it would pounce," said Jones.
"It wouldn't always pounce in the same direction but it would always sit in the same spot."
(Eiko Jones)
Jones records videos and photos to post on his photography website, Eiko Jones Photography. He then sells the images to producers and stock footage companies.
He says capturing spawning images is a challenge.