Conservation

Conservation officials are investigating three dead elk found on Dec. 10 in Cowichan Lake area. (Citizen file photo)

Investigation begins after three dead elk found in Cowichan Lake

Conservation officials fear more illegal poaching

 

Brants were once an abundant bird in North America until overhutning led to their decline (Courtesy of —- Victoria Harbour Bird Sanctuary) Brants were once an abundant bird in North America until overhutning led to their decline (Courtesy of —- Victoria Harbour Bird Sanctuary) Brants were once an abundant bird in North America until overhutning led to their decline (Courtesy of —- Victoria Harbour Bird Sanctuary)

Victoria bird sanctuary celebrates 100 years keeping nature alive in city

The sanctuary occupies the marine front yard of Greater Victoria.

 

Crew members at a watercraft inspection site in Golden decontaminated a boat from Ontario that had invasive mussels on board. (Conservation Officer Service/Facebook)

Conservation dog detects invasive mussels on boat bound for B.C. waters

Boat quarantined for 30 days, owner fined $230

 

University of British Columbia master’s student Megan Winand holds a frog in this undated handout photo. Winand is one of the first to study the impacts of mitigation translocation, or the movement of animals from one location to “the next available habitat that is of the same or better value than where they came from.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Madeline Woodley

B.C. frog relocation project aims to better understand conservation practice

Frogs are an indicator species, meaning they’re often the first to reveal when something is amiss

University of British Columbia master’s student Megan Winand holds a frog in this undated handout photo. Winand is one of the first to study the impacts of mitigation translocation, or the movement of animals from one location to “the next available habitat that is of the same or better value than where they came from.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Madeline Woodley
A grizzly bear that was relocated from Squamish in September 2020 was found dead in the Squamish River on Aug. 10, 2023, BC Conservation Officer Service says. It was illegally killed and believed to have been dragged to the river for disposal. (BCCOS)

Grizzly bear shot and killed, dragged into Squamish River

BC Conservation Officer Service says the bear was relocated from Squamish in 2020

A grizzly bear that was relocated from Squamish in September 2020 was found dead in the Squamish River on Aug. 10, 2023, BC Conservation Officer Service says. It was illegally killed and believed to have been dragged to the river for disposal. (BCCOS)
A black bear looking at a photographer from a porch in Harrison Hot Springs. (Haslettphoto)

Tree planter airlifted to hospital after bear attack near Tumbler Ridge

Victim airlifted to hospital in Prince George

A black bear looking at a photographer from a porch in Harrison Hot Springs. (Haslettphoto)
Alaina Miller set up a memorial near Thetis Lake Regional Park for a mother bear euthanized by Conservation Officers Friday (June 23) over concerns it posed a public safety risk. A group of neighbours are now calling for changes in the community to prevent another incident like this. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

‘Absolutely devastating’: View Royal teen mourns after mother bear euthanized

Community mourning after bear put down to ‘ensure public safety’

Alaina Miller set up a memorial near Thetis Lake Regional Park for a mother bear euthanized by Conservation Officers Friday (June 23) over concerns it posed a public safety risk. A group of neighbours are now calling for changes in the community to prevent another incident like this. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Two marmots explore the outdoors on "Invitation" run at Mount Washington on June 28. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)

VIDEO: ‘Disgustingly cute’ marmots start new life at Mount Washington

Year-old pups join the wild after being born and raised in captivity

Two marmots explore the outdoors on "Invitation" run at Mount Washington on June 28. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)
Grasslands known as Bunchgrass Hills, south of Kamloops, B.C., are shown in a handout photo. More than 60 square kilometres of at-risk grassland in British Columbia’s southern Interior will be protected forever, as part of the newest conservation project in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nature Conservancy of Canada

Protection coming for large tract of threatened grassland south of Kamloops

Bunchgrass Hills protection secures vital habitat and safe pathways for dozens of species

Grasslands known as Bunchgrass Hills, south of Kamloops, B.C., are shown in a handout photo. More than 60 square kilometres of at-risk grassland in British Columbia’s southern Interior will be protected forever, as part of the newest conservation project in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nature Conservancy of Canada
A black bear looking at a photographer from a porch in Harrison Hot Springs. (Haslettphoto)

Prince George was B.C’s deadliest community for black bears last year

Provincially, 500 black bears were killed by conservation officers in 2022, a 14% decrease from 2021

A black bear looking at a photographer from a porch in Harrison Hot Springs. (Haslettphoto)
Western painted turtles get their name from their western distribution and their finely detailed red, yellow and green markings. (John G. Woods photo)

Man caught snatching endangered turtles from Kelowna pond

Conservation Officers caught the man and want to remind the public that wildlife must stay wild

Western painted turtles get their name from their western distribution and their finely detailed red, yellow and green markings. (John G. Woods photo)
Western Brook Lamprey Morrison Creek population– “silver form” (top) and non-silver, traditional looking Western Brook Lamprey. Photo by Jay Wade

Community effort protects rare fish species found only in Vancouver Island watershed

Morrison Creek Headwaters, home of the western brook lamprey, now a protected area

Western Brook Lamprey Morrison Creek population– “silver form” (top) and non-silver, traditional looking Western Brook Lamprey. Photo by Jay Wade
Looking out at the ocean from East Sooke Regional Park. All of the CRD’s 33 parks have been recognized in a federal database for protected and conserved areas. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

CRD parks now recognized in federal protected areas database

Feds aim for 30 per cent of Canada to be conserved by 2030

Looking out at the ocean from East Sooke Regional Park. All of the CRD’s 33 parks have been recognized in a federal database for protected and conserved areas. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Theresa Szymanis shows a garbage pile near Devli’s Den Lake to another member of the AV Nature Club. Volunteers spent a couple of hours on Thursday, April 6, 2023 cleaning up most of the pile and hauling it to the Alberni Valley Landfill. (MIKE YOUDS PHOTO)

Alberni Valley Nature Club hauls 140 Kg of trash out of ecologically sensitive area

Devil’s Den Bluffs under threat from multi-modal overuse, says outdoorsman

Theresa Szymanis shows a garbage pile near Devli’s Den Lake to another member of the AV Nature Club. Volunteers spent a couple of hours on Thursday, April 6, 2023 cleaning up most of the pile and hauling it to the Alberni Valley Landfill. (MIKE YOUDS PHOTO)
Threatened yellow-montane violets in the Mt. Tuam protected area on Salt Spring Island. (Photo by Laura Mattias)

Islands conservancy receives funding to address biodiversity loss

Three-year funding boost ensures the continuation of species-at-risk program

Threatened yellow-montane violets in the Mt. Tuam protected area on Salt Spring Island. (Photo by Laura Mattias)
Coho is one of the many salmon species that spawns in Little Qualicum River. (Submitted photo)

Nature Trust of B.C. raising funds to protect land in Little Qualicum River

Crowdfunding campaign launched with goal to raise $415,000 by April 30

Coho is one of the many salmon species that spawns in Little Qualicum River. (Submitted photo)
A northern spotted owl is shown at the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program (NSOBP) near Hope, B.C. in this undated handout photo. One of just four endangered spotted owls known to be in the wild in British Columbia is now recovering from an injury after being found along some train tracks, slowing the careful plans to revive the species, a breeding program co-ordinator said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, NSOBP *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Northern spotted owl found injured near B.C. train tracks 2 months after release

It’s believed the owl — named Sitist, which means night in the Spuzzum language — may have collided with a passing train

A northern spotted owl is shown at the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program (NSOBP) near Hope, B.C. in this undated handout photo. One of just four endangered spotted owls known to be in the wild in British Columbia is now recovering from an injury after being found along some train tracks, slowing the careful plans to revive the species, a breeding program co-ordinator said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, NSOBP *MANDATORY CREDIT*
KELA_EKE Kingfisher Forest, named for its abundance of belted kingfishers, as seen from above. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Rare Pender Island habitat slated for ‘mega-mansions’ to become nature preserve

KELA_EKE Kingfisher Forest secured for wildlife conservation in joint land acquisition

KELA_EKE Kingfisher Forest, named for its abundance of belted kingfishers, as seen from above. (Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)
The Incomappleux Valley (Paul Zizka)

‘We owe it to our children’: 75,000 hectares of old growth forest conserved east of Revelstoke

The Incomappleux Valley is home to the globally rare inland temperate rainforests

The Incomappleux Valley (Paul Zizka)
Caribou herds in the Shuswap and surrounding areas remain in low numbers but have been relatively undisturbed by humans in the past year. (Black Press file photo)

Caribou herds being left undisturbed in the Shuswap and surrounding areas

Frisby-Boulder and other herds remain small in number but healthy

Caribou herds in the Shuswap and surrounding areas remain in low numbers but have been relatively undisturbed by humans in the past year. (Black Press file photo)