Animals

(Submitted photo)

One escaped serval cat caught, another still on the loose near Qualicum Beach

Owners believe animals may have been let out of their cage intentionally

(Submitted photo)
Kailey DeFehr found a praying mantis inside her home, near Country Club Centre in Nanaimo. (Submitted photo)

Cat drags in praying mantis, which it turns out, can be found on occasion in Nanaimo

Professor says the insects aren’t likely to become invasive

Kailey DeFehr found a praying mantis inside her home, near Country Club Centre in Nanaimo. (Submitted photo)
The Vancouver Island Coastal Cowgirls perform Saturday during day one of the Saanich Fair. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Saanich Fair draws thousands on opening day

The action continues Sunday and Monday

The Vancouver Island Coastal Cowgirls perform Saturday during day one of the Saanich Fair. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
West Coast Animal Veterinary Emergency Specialty Hospital (WAVES) has announced it will be pausing its emergency services as of Sept. 1 due to staffing shortages. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Langford vet clinic closing ER services due to staff shortages

WAVES will only be offering specialty care as of Sept. 1

West Coast Animal Veterinary Emergency Specialty Hospital (WAVES) has announced it will be pausing its emergency services as of Sept. 1 due to staffing shortages. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
On Aug. 30 at around 12:30 p.m., Saanich police approached a man who had been camped on private property for several weeks on a pathway near the Galloping Goose bridge in the area of the Trans-Canada Highway at Carey Road. (Black Press Media file photo)

Man arrested after police confrontation ends on Trans-Canada Highway in Saanich

The man, two dogs fled onto the highway after encounter with police

On Aug. 30 at around 12:30 p.m., Saanich police approached a man who had been camped on private property for several weeks on a pathway near the Galloping Goose bridge in the area of the Trans-Canada Highway at Carey Road. (Black Press Media file photo)
A black bear caught in a trap in Port Alice near the end of August. (Brian Grover/Port Alice News and Views Facebook photo)

Four bears killed this month in Port Alice, here’s why

Conservation officers euthanize 4 animals habituated to gorging on village’s overflowing dumpsters

A black bear caught in a trap in Port Alice near the end of August. (Brian Grover/Port Alice News and Views Facebook photo)
Orcas feed amongst the activity of beach-goers at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay on Saturday, Aug. 20. (Photo courtesy Lori Jones)

‘Festival atmosphere’: Orcas feast in Nanaimo’s Departure Bay

Hundreds of people line the beach to watch Bigg’s killer whales

Orcas feed amongst the activity of beach-goers at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay on Saturday, Aug. 20. (Photo courtesy Lori Jones)
Three mature deer enjoy a munch in a Beach Drive yard near Spewhung (Turkey Head). An Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society researcher hopes to see a sustained reduction in fawns, but said there’s no silver bullet to managing urban deer populations. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Fawns on lawns: Oak Bay still seeks long-term deer management plan

Population dropped 40% in three years but still no silver bullet, researcher says

Three mature deer enjoy a munch in a Beach Drive yard near Spewhung (Turkey Head). An Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society researcher hopes to see a sustained reduction in fawns, but said there’s no silver bullet to managing urban deer populations. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and people in Nanoose Bay rescued a beached porpoise Aug. 14. (Submitted photo)

Beached baby porpoise rescued from tidal pool in Nanoose Bay

Porpoise calf found thrashing in sand and rocks near Pacific Shores Resort and Spa

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and people in Nanoose Bay rescued a beached porpoise Aug. 14. (Submitted photo)
The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre needs cedar boughs to help raccoons transition into their outdoor enclosures. (BC SPCA Wild ARC/Facebook)

Mid-summer baby bump prompts reminder from Greater Victoria wildlife advocates

Metchosin-based BC SPCA animal rehab centre in search of greenery for raccoons

The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre needs cedar boughs to help raccoons transition into their outdoor enclosures. (BC SPCA Wild ARC/Facebook)
A blonde raccoon out and about with its family on Saysutshun north of Midden Bay on Wednesday, July 27. (Photo courtesy Marian Stewart)

Island-dwelling blonde raccoon hits the beach on hot summer day in B.C.

Boater gets up close to blonde mother raccoon and kits on island off Nanaimo

A blonde raccoon out and about with its family on Saysutshun north of Midden Bay on Wednesday, July 27. (Photo courtesy Marian Stewart)
Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)

Mummified baby woolly mammoth discovered in Yukon was likely weeks old when she died

Nun cho ga being preserved in freezer storage while next steps are determined

Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)
One of the four Vancouver Island marmots released on Mount Washington July 6 pokes its head out of the burrow for the first time after its release. Photo by Erin Haluschak

Threatened Vancouver Island marmots continue to re-emerge from the brink

4 captive-bred marmots released on Mount Washington, population up to 258

One of the four Vancouver Island marmots released on Mount Washington July 6 pokes its head out of the burrow for the first time after its release. Photo by Erin Haluschak
Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

B.C. firefighters rescue dog trapped in drain pipe after ‘yelp for help’

Firefighters fasten blanket to fire hose to create ‘Q-tip’ to pull out panicked pooch

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

Nanaimo firefighters rescue dog from drain pipe after ‘yelp for help’

Firefighters fasten blanket to fire hose to create ‘Q-tip’ to pull out panicked pooch

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
RAPS Animal Hospital is making it easier for Vancouver pet parents to access animal care (photo by Mikhail Nilov/pexels.com).

Vancouver Island pet owners offered free Lower Mainland hotel for $2K+ vet treatments

RAPS Animal Hospital hopes to combat wait times, cost and availability of animal care on the Island

RAPS Animal Hospital is making it easier for Vancouver pet parents to access animal care (photo by Mikhail Nilov/pexels.com).
A baby red-tailed hawk, right, originally captured as live food for an eaglet, left, has become part of a family of eagles on Gabriola Island. The eagles are feeding and caring for it after the eaglet wouldn’t kill it when it was brought to the nest in early June. (Photo courtesy Sharron Palmer-Hunt)

Food becomes family member for eagles on Gabriola Island

Red-tailed hawklet brought to the nest as food instead gets adopted by eagles near Nanaimo

A baby red-tailed hawk, right, originally captured as live food for an eaglet, left, has become part of a family of eagles on Gabriola Island. The eagles are feeding and caring for it after the eaglet wouldn’t kill it when it was brought to the nest in early June. (Photo courtesy Sharron Palmer-Hunt)
BC SPCA is seeing cat hoarder situations become more common, leading to crowding in the society’s shelters. (Black Press Media file)

BC SPCA halves cat adoption fees to ease shelter crowding

Society says it’s seen a spike in massive donations from hoarder situations

BC SPCA is seeing cat hoarder situations become more common, leading to crowding in the society’s shelters. (Black Press Media file)
Campbell Riverite Chelsea Cheeba was attacked by an eagle in Campbell River. Photo courtesy Chelsea Cheeba

Eagle lover ‘dive bombed’ by bald eagle in Campbell River

Woman sustained injuries to her head in incident

Campbell Riverite Chelsea Cheeba was attacked by an eagle in Campbell River. Photo courtesy Chelsea Cheeba
Necrotizing fasciitis, a disease that is difficult and expensive to treat and often fatal, has cropped up in six dogs in Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach since October. (Stock photo)

Veterinarian issues alert about flesh-eating disease in dogs in Nanaimo and Parksville

Six cases of necrotizing fasciitis reported on central Island since the fall

Necrotizing fasciitis, a disease that is difficult and expensive to treat and often fatal, has cropped up in six dogs in Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach since October. (Stock photo)