Conservation

Bear viewing guide and expert Ellie Lamb is concerned B.C. conservation officers are euthanizing too many bears, but the conservation service says it’s always a last resort. (Submitted: Tracy Duncan)

BC Conservation needs oversight on bear euthanizations, expert argues

More than 600 bears killed in B.C. in 2021

Bear viewing guide and expert Ellie Lamb is concerned B.C. conservation officers are euthanizing too many bears, but the conservation service says it’s always a last resort. (Submitted: Tracy Duncan)
The BC Conservation Officer Service has recommended charges against a Lower Mainland man for feeding wildlife. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Lower Mainland resident allegedly fed bears and coyotes for months

B.C. conservation officers have recommended charges against them

The BC Conservation Officer Service has recommended charges against a Lower Mainland man for feeding wildlife. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)
Two orphaned grizzly bear cubs run while playing at the Greater Vancouver Zoo on July 8, 2020. Records obtained by non-profit Fur-Bearers show 77 bears cubs and juveniles were euthanized in B.C. in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

77 young bears killed in 2021, sparking complaint from animal rights group

Group argues B.C. Conservation euthanized some bears when no clear threat to public existed

Two orphaned grizzly bear cubs run while playing at the Greater Vancouver Zoo on July 8, 2020. Records obtained by non-profit Fur-Bearers show 77 bears cubs and juveniles were euthanized in B.C. in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
An upstream view of BC Hydro’s Strathcona Dam. The company is under fire from the BC Wildlife Federation, which says BC Hydro isn’t meeting its environmental compensation requirements. (BC Hydro photo)

BC Hydro falling short on environmental obligations, conservation group claims

BC Wildlife Federation calls for auditor general to examine electric company

An upstream view of BC Hydro’s Strathcona Dam. The company is under fire from the BC Wildlife Federation, which says BC Hydro isn’t meeting its environmental compensation requirements. (BC Hydro photo)
A new 30-metre wide opening in the Fraser River’s North Arm Jetty allows juvenile Chinook salmon to reach a vital estuary for the first time in more than 100 years. (Photo by Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Juvenile salmon gain access to crucial B.C. habitat for first time in 100 years

New opening in Fraser River jetty allows for slow transition from fresh to salt water

A new 30-metre wide opening in the Fraser River’s North Arm Jetty allows juvenile Chinook salmon to reach a vital estuary for the first time in more than 100 years. (Photo by Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)
Dan Simmons shows off an award he received from the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. for his efforts to conserve cow moose. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Cow Moose Sign founder honoured for efforts to conserve B.C. moose population

Williams Lake’s Dan Simmons continues to push government to stop issuing all LEH tags for cow moose

Dan Simmons shows off an award he received from the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. for his efforts to conserve cow moose. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
(Photo - Conservation Officer Service - Facebook)

Charges possible for attempting to sell threatened turtle in Kelowna

The turtle was taken back to the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops

(Photo - Conservation Officer Service - Facebook)
Decoys like this juvenile grizzly bear are used in the wildlife attack training scenarios for the conservation officers. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Predator attack scenarios prepare B.C. conservation officers for real-life calls

Attacks ‘extremely rare’ but officers need to be prepared, says CO during training in Chilliwack

Decoys like this juvenile grizzly bear are used in the wildlife attack training scenarios for the conservation officers. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
(Canadian Press)

Interior Fraser steelhead face extinction, warn B.C. fishing, conservation groups

15 groups, including the BC Wildlife Federation, say species must be declared species at risk

(Canadian Press)
A deer that fell through ice in Westwood Lake got a ride to safety aboard Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s rescue boat on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

Deer rescued after falling through ice on Vancouver Island lake

Nanaimo Fire Rescue and B.C. Conservation Officer Service respond to incident Tuesday, Jan. 25

A deer that fell through ice in Westwood Lake got a ride to safety aboard Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s rescue boat on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
(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

(Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)
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

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)
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

  • Nov 10, 2021
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)
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)