jjcanoeguide wrote on Aug 13^th, 2010 at 3:05pm:

Sure, bears can swim, but my experience is that they typically don't hole up on an island when there's lots of food on the mainland.

I wonder about that and here's why. (This is only my own surmising BTW and I could be mistaken). Moose often take their calves to islands to help deter predation from their #1 mortal enemy, wolves. I believe that adult male bears frequent the islands in search of these calves.

Like I said, I could be wrong but bear sign on islands is not at all uncommon and I expect to find it if I look hard enough than not. I suppose I would have to defer to canoe guides and fur trappers though on that one.