A Kelowna couple got a memorable nature moment with grizzly bears after doing some hiking at Big White Mountain Resort earlier this week.

Carolyn Kingsley and her husband Steve Brown were heading home along Big White Road on Sept. 1 when they spotted two cubs in the brush. They pulled over and stayed in their car observing and taking photos and videos.

Soon after, they watched the mama bear appear, standing up in the trees.

“The bears were all light in colour, I’d thought they’d be a darker brown,” Kingsley said. “When the mom stood up you can see how big she is. She was really big. One cub scurried into the brush and a bunch of scavenger birds flew up. We looked closer and realized they were eating a deer.”

The couple are originally from Dallas, Texas. They moved to the Okanagan two years ago.

“There are obviously not a lot of grizzlies in Dallas. My husband is fascinated by them, and he’d never seen one before this,” Kingsley said. “For him to be so obsessed with them and then just stumble upon a family of them is amazing.”

Finished eating, the bears then came closer, travelling across the road in front of the car. Kingsley said she felt safe but cautious.

“We both took video footage. It was cool to get a view of them not hidden by trees,” Kingsley said. “It was disappointing when we got home to find somehow neither of us had the closeup videos on our camera rolls. We’re not sure how that happened, but it was still a very cool thing to witness.”

The mother grizzly bear and her two cubs are living around Big White village and have been spotted by residents this spring and summer.

“I hope these bears to continue to enjoy their peaceful life. I’m so lucky to have observed them,” she said.

According to BC Parks, if you see a grizzly bear and its cubs, prioritize safety and avoid direct confrontation. Remain calm, don’t run and slowly back away. Use bear spray if necessary, and if all else fails, protect yourself by lying on your stomach with your legs apart and cover your head with your hands.