Conservation

(Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)

Otter with a toothache, cougar in a pink collar top most ‘unique’ calls for BC COS in 2021

Conservation Officers handle 30,000 calls per year on average

 

It has been a brutal year for bears in the Elk Valley, with dozens destroyed by Conservation Officers and more killed by traffic and trains. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

31 bears euthanized in the Elk Valley

Conservation Officers have been forced to destroy 31 bears in the Elk Valley so far

 

Rodenticide-laced grain, coloured so humans can tell the difference, was found scattered underneath a rodent bait box at a Ministry of Environment office near where a great horned owl was found dead. (Photo courtesy of Deanna Pfeifer)

Advocate wants rodenticide ban after dead bird found outside Victoria MOE office

Raptors continue to be poisoned by consuming rodents that have eaten poison-laced bait

 

Darin Brown, the chairman of Ducks Unlimited, Oceanside chapter, visits the PQB News/VI Daily studios. (Peter McCully photo)

PQBeat: Talking conservation with Darin Brown of Ducks Unlimited Canada

Podcast: ‘Marshkeepers’ group to monitor and assist with wetlands projects

Darin Brown, the chairman of Ducks Unlimited, Oceanside chapter, visits the PQB News/VI Daily studios. (Peter McCully photo)
A Vancouver man has been fined $6K and handed a five-year hunting ban after strolling through downtown Princeton killing deer. (File photo)

Vancouver man fined $6K for killing deer with a crossbow in downtown Princeton

The man who was arrested near the Subway is also banned from hunting for five years

A Vancouver man has been fined $6K and handed a five-year hunting ban after strolling through downtown Princeton killing deer. (File photo)
The fawn mule deer that was injured by an unleashed dog in Kuiper’s Peak Mountain Park on Nov. 7. (Contributed)

Unleashed dog attack on deer in Kelowna park leads to charges against owner

Conservation officers had to euthanize the injured deer

The fawn mule deer that was injured by an unleashed dog in Kuiper’s Peak Mountain Park on Nov. 7. (Contributed)
Three dead mule deer were found near Castlegar. Black Press file photo

Conservation officers investigating killing of 3 mule deer in West Kootenay

Three dead does were found in a clear cut

Three dead mule deer were found near Castlegar. Black Press file photo
The Nature Conservancy of Canada said that spooky stereotypes surrounding creatures such as bats create misunderstandings about the important mammals. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Halloween-linked creatures’ spooky reputation hurts protection: conservation group

Stereotypes inhibit understanding of the importance of these creatures

The Nature Conservancy of Canada said that spooky stereotypes surrounding creatures such as bats create misunderstandings about the important mammals. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
An adult male black bear was killed after breaking into a garage in Ucluelet on Monday, Oct. 25. (Westerly file photo)

Another bear killed in Ucluelet as ‘horrible year’ continues

11 bears killed in Tofino-Ucluelet region so far this year

An adult male black bear was killed after breaking into a garage in Ucluelet on Monday, Oct. 25. (Westerly file photo)
Three grizzly bear cubs killed after being hit by a train near Elko, B.C. on October 6 2021. Their deceased mother was found further down the tracks. (Contributed by Dr. Clayton Lamb)

Mother grizzly bear, 3 cubs killed by train in Kootenays

A female grizzly and her three cubs died on train tracks on October 6

Three grizzly bear cubs killed after being hit by a train near Elko, B.C. on October 6 2021. Their deceased mother was found further down the tracks. (Contributed by Dr. Clayton Lamb)
RCMP, Conservation officers, DFO and Wildlife officers all participated in a roadside blitz near Boston Bar on Oct. 16 and 17 to enforce B.C. hunting and angling laws. (BC Conservation Office photo)

Loaded firearm nets ticket for hunter in roadside conservation blitz near Boston Bar

Hunters and anglers targeted by conservation officers in B.C. ‘funnel point’

RCMP, Conservation officers, DFO and Wildlife officers all participated in a roadside blitz near Boston Bar on Oct. 16 and 17 to enforce B.C. hunting and angling laws. (BC Conservation Office photo)
Dorothy Chambers above the Colquitz Creek footbridge formerly used to catch and count coho salmon. The practice ended for the year on Oct. 10 after otters threatened their numbers. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Hungry otters end annual Greater Victoria area salmon count after 10 days

Colquitz Creek counted halted as otter pups taught to exploit salmon traps used for the count

Dorothy Chambers above the Colquitz Creek footbridge formerly used to catch and count coho salmon. The practice ended for the year on Oct. 10 after otters threatened their numbers. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
A bull moose is wandering around the woods in the Fernie area with an arrow in its back hump. (Pixabay file)

Moose with arrow in back hump spotted wandering around near Fernie

Unfortunate but complicated situation, says COS

A bull moose is wandering around the woods in the Fernie area with an arrow in its back hump. (Pixabay file)
Conservation officers were called to Youbou on Sept. 22 to free this elk from a swing and hammock that were entangled in its antlers. (Submitted photo)

Conservation officers rescue entangled elk in Youbou

This is the third one in the region this month

Conservation officers were called to Youbou on Sept. 22 to free this elk from a swing and hammock that were entangled in its antlers. (Submitted photo)
The Wilson Nature Park sign was unveiled at the Englishman River Estuary on Marine Way in Parksville on Sept. 16. Pictured from left, The Nature of BC chair and CEO, respectively, Emily Griffiths-Hamilton and Jasper Lament, and founders of the Wilson 5 Foundation, Summer and Chip Wilson. (Michael Briones Photo)

Wilson 5 Foundation donates $6M to rehabilitate Vancouver Island’s Englishman River

Largest land conservancy gift made by the foundation to date will re-naturalize Parksville estuary

The Wilson Nature Park sign was unveiled at the Englishman River Estuary on Marine Way in Parksville on Sept. 16. Pictured from left, The Nature of BC chair and CEO, respectively, Emily Griffiths-Hamilton and Jasper Lament, and founders of the Wilson 5 Foundation, Summer and Chip Wilson. (Michael Briones Photo)
Brendan Sandhu cuddles one of the male wolf-dog hybrids he recently helped rescue in the Hope and Chilliwack area. (Submitted by Brendan Sandhu)

‘One of my guys jumped into a 10-foot poop pit,’ says wolfdog rescuer near Chilliwack

Born from dog/wolf parents, hybrids are nearly genetically, physically identical to wolves

Brendan Sandhu cuddles one of the male wolf-dog hybrids he recently helped rescue in the Hope and Chilliwack area. (Submitted by Brendan Sandhu)
Proceeds from the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s second annual online auction will support conservation initiatives around the province. BCWF photo.

Online gift, gear and getaway auction boosts BC fish and wildlife conservation

B.C. Wildlife Federation online auction supports conservation projects across the province

Proceeds from the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s second annual online auction will support conservation initiatives around the province. BCWF photo.
Tucker, the starving bobcat rescued by Langley’s Critter Care, is doing well, but he will need new accommodations. The wild animal rehab centre has launched a sponsorship campaign to help pay for it. (Critter Care video)

VIDEO: B.C. animal rehab centre offers a chance to sponsor rescued bobcat

Tucker is doing well, but he will need a new enclosure

Tucker, the starving bobcat rescued by Langley’s Critter Care, is doing well, but he will need new accommodations. The wild animal rehab centre has launched a sponsorship campaign to help pay for it. (Critter Care video)
The green outline is land to be donated by French Creek House Ltd., for an eagle preserve. (FFCS map)

Conservation groups aim to raise $500K for eagle preserve at French Creek Estuary

Biologists host walking tour to illustrate area’s importance

The green outline is land to be donated by French Creek House Ltd., for an eagle preserve. (FFCS map)
Gates Creek, 274-acres of land now in trust with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Nature Conservancy)

New conservancy will protect 274-acre corridor B.C. grizzly bears use to meet, mingle

Maintaining connectivity between Stein-Nahatlatch and South Chilcotin grizzly populations essential for species’ survival

Gates Creek, 274-acres of land now in trust with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Nature Conservancy)