Wildlife

Police remind residents to be bear aware after a sighting in Saanich. (Courtesy Saanich police)

Bear and cub spotted near Saanich beach prompt police warning

Conservation called after sighting near Hamsterly Beach

 

Bighorn Sheep are blue-listed as an at risk species. (Submitted photo)

Domestic diseases shrinking B.C.’s wild sheep population in Okanagan

Okanagan Nation alliance calling on province to develop overarching legislation to protect the sheep

 

A female Anna’s hummingbird rests on a feeder in Vancouver on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, amid a cold snap in southern British Columbia. A wildlife rescue group says dozens of hummingbirds have been turned in suffering cold weather injuries in recent days. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young

Cold and injured hummingbirds piling up at B.C. shelters

33 hummingbirds were admitted last weekend alone

 

A polar bear mother and her two cubs walk along the shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill, Man. in this Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007 photo Scientists fear Canadian polar bears may be threatened by the spread of avian flu after officials confirmed the disease killed a bear in Alaska. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Avian flu feared in Canadian polar bears after disease kills bear in Alaska

The virus first showed up in Yukon more than a year ago in a red fox

A polar bear mother and her two cubs walk along the shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill, Man. in this Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007 photo Scientists fear Canadian polar bears may be threatened by the spread of avian flu after officials confirmed the disease killed a bear in Alaska. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A British Columbia conservation group says it has purchased a vast hunting tenure covering more than a quarter of the Great Bear Rainforest on the province’s north and central coast to protect wildlife there. The then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge along with then premier of British Columbia Christy Clark walk through the rainforest in Bella Bella, B.C., Monday, Sept 26, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Conservationists buy hunting rights to large chunk of Great Bear Rainforest

Raincoast Conservation Foundation says $1.92M deal will help it protect wildlife

A British Columbia conservation group says it has purchased a vast hunting tenure covering more than a quarter of the Great Bear Rainforest on the province’s north and central coast to protect wildlife there. The then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge along with then premier of British Columbia Christy Clark walk through the rainforest in Bella Bella, B.C., Monday, Sept 26, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A Vancouver Island marmot named Bluebell, is seen in this handout photo in June 2023. The Vancouver Island marmot is one of the most endangered species on Earth. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Adam Taylor

Baby boom of 59 pups helps endangered Vancouver Island marmot toward recovery

Population has increased ten-fold since 2003

A Vancouver Island marmot named Bluebell, is seen in this handout photo in June 2023. The Vancouver Island marmot is one of the most endangered species on Earth. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Adam Taylor
Full-body forensic reconstruction of a woolly dog based on a 160-year-old pelt in the Smithsonian’s collection as well as archaeological remains is shown in this handout image. For thousands of years, a breed of white woolly dog played an important and cultural role for Coast Salish people in Western Canada, but when colonists moved in the animal quickly became extinct, a new study says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Karen Carr

Colonialism wiped out Vancouver Island’s Coast Salish woolly dog: study

Decline of carefully bred, pampered animals through the 19th century isn’t fully understood

Full-body forensic reconstruction of a woolly dog based on a 160-year-old pelt in the Smithsonian’s collection as well as archaeological remains is shown in this handout image. For thousands of years, a breed of white woolly dog played an important and cultural role for Coast Salish people in Western Canada, but when colonists moved in the animal quickly became extinct, a new study says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Karen Carr
Cougars are the focus of some research taking place in the Chilcotin to look at large predator-prey dynamics. This cougar was photographed in the Williams Lake area, near a home by a resident, not as part of the study. (Jim Hilton photo)

Prowling B.C.’s Chilcotin: researcher tracks cougar/caribou relationship

Senior wildlife biologist has followed fascination for large predators from Ireland to the Cariboo

Cougars are the focus of some research taking place in the Chilcotin to look at large predator-prey dynamics. This cougar was photographed in the Williams Lake area, near a home by a resident, not as part of the study. (Jim Hilton photo)
Wolves have always been prevalent on the North Coast, though an increase of incidents in residential areas has concerned the municipalities of Prince Rupert and Port Edward. (The Northern View file photo)

Wolves at the door: Rising encounters cause concern on B.C.’s north coast

Conservation Office reports uptick in sightings/encounters for entire Skeena region

Wolves have always been prevalent on the North Coast, though an increase of incidents in residential areas has concerned the municipalities of Prince Rupert and Port Edward. (The Northern View file photo)
Winter Wonderland draws an unexpected visitor in Victoria’s Centennial Square. (Photo by Ken Lee)

UPDATE: 12 owl photos captured in Greater Victoria this fall

Share your owl or other wildlife photos/videos by emailing christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

Winter Wonderland draws an unexpected visitor in Victoria’s Centennial Square. (Photo by Ken Lee)
An urban owl captured by the headlights of a passing car in View Royal. (Photo by Rob Byrch)

‘Tuck in ponytails’ to avoid dangerous Greater Victoria owl encounters

Keep pets clear of known owl habitats, ‘they’re big birds carrying sharp knives’

An urban owl captured by the headlights of a passing car in View Royal. (Photo by Rob Byrch)
A bear snaps at a person who attempted to touch the animal's back while it fed on a salmon carcass on a beach of the Campbell River in September, 2023. (bl00k_/INSTAGRAM)

VIDEO: Man petting eating bear in Campbell River sparks outrage online

Bear seen eating a salmon at the edge of the water and members of the group attempt to take selfies with it

A bear snaps at a person who attempted to touch the animal's back while it fed on a salmon carcass on a beach of the Campbell River in September, 2023. (bl00k_/INSTAGRAM)
Lucy the elephant at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, in Edmonton on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Canadian zoos won’t be able to have new elephants or apes under new federal legislation introduced this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Canada looks to phase elephants and apes out from captivity

Bill introduced in Ottawa proposes banning new captivity, use of these animals in entertainment

Lucy the elephant at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, in Edmonton on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Canadian zoos won’t be able to have new elephants or apes under new federal legislation introduced this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
A wolf-hybrid dog is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)

Volunteers ask people not to feed wolf-dog on loose near Parksville

Animal not yet hungry enough to enter baited trap

A wolf-hybrid dog is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)
A deer spotted near McKenzie Avenue Sunday (Oct. 29) with an arrow embedded in its torso. (Leo Spalteholz/X)

Deer running around with arrow stuck in it draws attention in Saanich

Conservation service actively looking for injured buck

A deer spotted near McKenzie Avenue Sunday (Oct. 29) with an arrow embedded in its torso. (Leo Spalteholz/X)
A fan of Halloween, Oak Bay resident and municipal councillor Hazel Braithwaite goes all out in terms of yard decor. She intentionally sought out a more wildlife-friendly cobweb option. (Courtesy Hazel Braithwaite)

Spooky Oak Bay home highlights need for bird-friendly spiderwebs

Fibrous fake webbing can injure wildlife: BC SPCA

A fan of Halloween, Oak Bay resident and municipal councillor Hazel Braithwaite goes all out in terms of yard decor. She intentionally sought out a more wildlife-friendly cobweb option. (Courtesy Hazel Braithwaite)
A young boy had a close encounter with a black bear in a residential Port Coquitlam neighbourhood earlier this month. (Screenshot/YouTube/jrmynet)

Black bear comes within feet of B.C. child before getting scared off

WildSafeBC emphasizing importance of having zero wildlife attractants in residential neighbourhoods

A young boy had a close encounter with a black bear in a residential Port Coquitlam neighbourhood earlier this month. (Screenshot/YouTube/jrmynet)
Boo folicks in the snow before his nap at the Grizzly Bear Refuge near Golden. (Instagram)

Boo settles down for a long winter’s nap in Golden

Boo lives at the Grizzly Bear Refuge at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

Boo folicks in the snow before his nap at the Grizzly Bear Refuge near Golden. (Instagram)
A wolf-dog hyrid is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)

Efforts underway to humanely trap wolf-dog hybrid loose near Parksville

Animal control assessing potential trap locations on private land

A wolf-dog hyrid is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)
A wolf-dog hybrid has been reported on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)

‘Aggressive’ wolf-dog hybrid reported on the loose outside of Parksville

B.C. Conservation Service aware of animal released by an owner

A wolf-dog hybrid has been reported on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)