'Sit there and wait': Campbell River filmmaker captures black bear hunting salmon
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.
"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."
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.
"I've done hundreds of hours sitting watching a pair of fish digging. You think they're going to spawn and then they don't," said Jones.
"I've sat and watched a single pair of fish for eight hours and not had them spawn, so it's really a game of waiting," he said.
Filmmaker Eiko Jones was attempting to record salmon spawning but instead captured incredible video of black bears trying to eat the fish. (CTV News)
His gear is a 6K cinema camera inside a custom-built housing that he has rigged up at the end of a long pole for remote shooting. Jones says he can be on the shoreline away from the river and any fish or bears. He monitors the output on an iPad.
"Anytime I do anything new it's always exciting as far as a new behavioural animal," he said.
"I've been filming salmon and bears for so long that just filming them standing there or doing nothing is not as exciting. I'm really looking for that behavioural shot where they're actually doing something that they do," said Jones.
The videographer has certainly captured exciting footage of bears doing what they do best on Vancouver Island.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.