The closest we got was on our Monday when we left the campsite, myself and the Tardis followed a big black bear (my guess would be close to 350-400lbs) on the road leading to the campsite, actually just a few km from the site... For all of you that ended up tenting, good that bear wasn't too curious!
Not to say one doesn't need to be respectful and cautious, but just a little FYI here, there has NEVER been a recorded bear attack on Vancouver Island. Really, it's true. Personally I've seen more bears here than I can count, and many of them at close range and never once felt remotely threatened. I never give cougars any concern either
, though have seen several and they DO attack people. The bears here (black bears) are funny though, because on the mainland way more people get beaten up or killed by black bears than grizzlies...
