Animals

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer are appealing their sentences in relation to a protest in April 2019 at an Abbotsford hog farm. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)

Two Abbotsford hog-farm protesters to appeal sentence

Hearing takes place Friday for Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer

 

The BC Community Bat Program is looking for night owl volunteers to spend time at dusk tallying bats at maternity roosts in the area for the annual count. (BC Community Bat Program photo)

Go bonkers for bats during B.C.’s annual count

In 2023, volunteers counted 888 bats at 274 maternity roost sites

 

(Photo courtesy of Grace Luccio)

Zebras gallop through neighborhood in Washington state

It was an unusual wildlife sighting Sunday when four zebras escaped from…

 

Two ducklings rescued from storm drains in Langley by firefighters on April 29. (Township of Langley Fire Department/Special to the Langley Advance Times)

Firefighters rescue ducklings from Langley storm drains

Ducks taken to vet, will now go to wildlife organization

Two ducklings rescued from storm drains in Langley by firefighters on April 29. (Township of Langley Fire Department/Special to the Langley Advance Times)
A two-year-old female orca calf, named Kwiisahi, or Brave Little Hunter, by the Ehattesaht First Nation, is spotted at the Little Espinosa Inlet near Zeballos, B.C., Friday, April 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Conscious, sentient thought likely for many or most animals: scientists

Scholars say birds, fish, squid and bees among the creatures capable of having ‘internal experience’

A two-year-old female orca calf, named Kwiisahi, or Brave Little Hunter, by the Ehattesaht First Nation, is spotted at the Little Espinosa Inlet near Zeballos, B.C., Friday, April 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A dog named “Hero” is shown in this handout photo provided by the Taber Lost Paws Society. A man who became stuck in a muddy ditch in southern Alberta for two days was rescued after police say his injured dog stayed close by during the ordeal, keeping his master warm and at one point even fighting off coyotes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Taber Lost Paws Society

Hero the dog fights off coyotes standed guard over owner stranded in ditch

Dog’s bravery and devotion have earned widespread plaudits after incident in southern Alberta

A dog named “Hero” is shown in this handout photo provided by the Taber Lost Paws Society. A man who became stuck in a muddy ditch in southern Alberta for two days was rescued after police say his injured dog stayed close by during the ordeal, keeping his master warm and at one point even fighting off coyotes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Taber Lost Paws Society
Two puppies wait outside Our Place on Pandora Avenue to receive their shots from Vets for Pets, a free veterinary clinic held every second Sunday of each month. (Vets for Pets/Facebook)

Free vet clinic saves thousands of pets for the unhoused in B.C.’s capital

Vets for Pets Victoria provides essential health care for furry companions of those in need

Two puppies wait outside Our Place on Pandora Avenue to receive their shots from Vets for Pets, a free veterinary clinic held every second Sunday of each month. (Vets for Pets/Facebook)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Rare ‘dancing lemur’ baby born at UK zoo is doing well and delighting keepers and visitors

Chester Zoo has released the first video of a critically endangered Coquerel’s…

(Black Press Media Creative)
After six years working with the Cranbrook and Kimberley RCMP, West the trauma dog will hung up his emotional support vest. He retired to a life of leisure and luxury back in September 2023. (Cranbrook RCMP photo)

Bears and pigs and goats, oh my: B.C.’s top animal stories of 2023

From a seal joining rowers to flying ants in search of mates and a marmot looking for love

After six years working with the Cranbrook and Kimberley RCMP, West the trauma dog will hung up his emotional support vest. He retired to a life of leisure and luxury back in September 2023. (Cranbrook RCMP photo)
Frank The Tank, a sulcata tortoise found wandering in a Richmond field, has left the Maple Ridge branch of the BC SPCA for his forever home. (Mark Vosper/Special to The News)

VIDEO: Wandering B.C. tortoise Frank the Tank finds his forever home

African tortoise found in Richmond field of bok choy gets backyard big enough for his personality

Frank The Tank, a sulcata tortoise found wandering in a Richmond field, has left the Maple Ridge branch of the BC SPCA for his forever home. (Mark Vosper/Special to The News)
A Coombs family says their French Bulldog, Ocean, was killed by a wolf-dog hybrid at Coombs Country Campground. (Photo courtesy Vancouver Island Internet Television)

B.C. family says wolf-dog hybrid killed bulldog puppy at campground

Animal has evaded traps for months; reports of several pet attacks

A Coombs family says their French Bulldog, Ocean, was killed by a wolf-dog hybrid at Coombs Country Campground. (Photo courtesy Vancouver Island Internet Television)
Cats left in crates on side of Vernon road. (OHS)

3 cats abandoned on Vernon road side now in care of Okanagan rescue

The three cats were left inside three crates on the side of a road in Vernon

Cats left in crates on side of Vernon road. (OHS)
A still image taken from cellphone video footage shows a sea lion tossing an octopus in Stuart Channel south of Nanaimo on Thursday, Nov. 16. (Image courtesy Lindsay Bryant)

Sea lion-versus-octopus battle filmed off B.C.’s south coast

Woman preparing to go for swim captures circle-of-life moment on video near Nanaimo

A still image taken from cellphone video footage shows a sea lion tossing an octopus in Stuart Channel south of Nanaimo on Thursday, Nov. 16. (Image courtesy Lindsay Bryant)
The group Animal Justice has released video that they say shows animal cruelty at Excelsior Hog Farm in Abbotsford, including piglets being crushed by their “caged mother.”

Abbotsford hog farm faces more animal-cruelty allegations

Animal Justice releases video they say was secretly recorded at Excelsior Hog Farm

The group Animal Justice has released video that they say shows animal cruelty at Excelsior Hog Farm in Abbotsford, including piglets being crushed by their “caged mother.”
A wolf-hybrid dog is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)

Wily B.C. wolf-dog WD-40 continues to give trappers the slip

Animal not yet hungry enough to enter baited trap set in rural Vancouver Island area

A wolf-hybrid dog is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)
Vancouver was the ‘rattiest’ city in B.C. in 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. communities dominate list of ‘rattiest’ cities in Canada

Vancouver, Burnaby and Kelowna are included in the top 5

Vancouver was the ‘rattiest’ city in B.C. in 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)
BC Community Bat Program is encouraging people to get involved this coming Bat Week. (Courtesy of Osoyoos Desert Centre)

B.C. Bat Week a fang-tastic time to learn about our only flying mammals

The BC Community Bat Program has a variety of ways to contribute during the week

BC Community Bat Program is encouraging people to get involved this coming Bat Week. (Courtesy of Osoyoos Desert Centre)
Eddie the alpaca was saved by The Llama Sanctuary as he suffered under an overgrown fleece. (The Llama Sanctuary/Facebook)

Overgrown alpaca recovering at Shuswap sanctuary

Eddie was rescued after receiving negligent care, suffering a matted fleece and crooked toes

Eddie the alpaca was saved by The Llama Sanctuary as he suffered under an overgrown fleece. (The Llama Sanctuary/Facebook)
Nanaimo CatNap Society volunteer Kathi Baart helped find a cat that was lost while its owner was visiting from Ontario last month. (Photo submitted)

Cat lost by tearful widow in B.C. making safe Thanksgiving return to Ontario

Senior slept in car, fell on her face while searching downtown last month

Nanaimo CatNap Society volunteer Kathi Baart helped find a cat that was lost while its owner was visiting from Ontario last month. (Photo submitted)
Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji plays at his enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Pandas could be gone from America’s zoos by the end of next year

Wearing an “I Love Pandas” T-shirt and clutching a panda-covered diary, Kelsey…

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji plays at his enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)