Wildlife

Elk are seen wading through the water near Harrison Mills. Elk were reintroduced to the area about 10 years ago and have been growing in number. (Screenshot/Andrea Wafler)

VIDEO: Locals marvel as reintroduced elk herd trots through Fraser Valley

Elk were reintroduced to the Harrison Mills area 10 years ago

Elk are seen wading through the water near Harrison Mills. Elk were reintroduced to the area about 10 years ago and have been growing in number. (Screenshot/Andrea Wafler)
A Victoria squirrel may be out looking for love this February. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

B.C. squirrels, skunks and raccoons are all looking for love this Valentine’s

Desire to mate brings critters out, then nesting puts attics and sheds at risk

A Victoria squirrel may be out looking for love this February. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Flamingo Ingo stands in the sunlight in a small lake next to his fellow flamingos at Berlin Zoo, Aug. 23, 2018. The Berlin Zoo is mourning Ingo the Flamingo, its oldest resident, who has died at what is thought to be at least 75 and had lived there since the mid-1950s. The zoo announced Ingo’s death at an “imposing” age in social media posts on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Gregor Fischer/dpa via AP)

Flamingo Ingo — the oldest animal in the Berlin Zoo — dead at 75

Flamingos typically live for about 30 years in the wild

Flamingo Ingo stands in the sunlight in a small lake next to his fellow flamingos at Berlin Zoo, Aug. 23, 2018. The Berlin Zoo is mourning Ingo the Flamingo, its oldest resident, who has died at what is thought to be at least 75 and had lived there since the mid-1950s. The zoo announced Ingo’s death at an “imposing” age in social media posts on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Gregor Fischer/dpa via AP)
A loggerhead sea turtle rarely seen in British Columbia waters has been rescued after being found suffering from hypothermia near Victoria. The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society says the turtle nicknamed Moira was rescued near Victoria on Feb. 4, 2024, and was hypothermic at the time of admission to the aquarium’s care. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-The Vancouver Aquarium

Hypothermic turtle rescued after rare foray in to cold B.C. waters

Loggerhead turtle recovering after being found near Victoria only the second confirmed B.C. sighting

A loggerhead sea turtle rarely seen in British Columbia waters has been rescued after being found suffering from hypothermia near Victoria. The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society says the turtle nicknamed Moira was rescued near Victoria on Feb. 4, 2024, and was hypothermic at the time of admission to the aquarium’s care. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-The Vancouver Aquarium
A captive African lion stares out from behind cage bars, a powerful image from Raincoast Dog Rescue Society’s daring mission led by Jesse Adams to rescue nine lions from a war-torn zoo in Ukraine.

Noah-like mission: B.C. dog rescue saves 9 lions from war-torn Ukrainian zoo

Raincoast Dog Rescue Society leads daring mission showcasing commitment beyond canine companions

A captive African lion stares out from behind cage bars, a powerful image from Raincoast Dog Rescue Society’s daring mission led by Jesse Adams to rescue nine lions from a war-torn zoo in Ukraine.
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

Bighorn Sheep are blue-listed as an at risk species. (Submitted photo)
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 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
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 B.C.’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)
While unlikely, a great horned owl could carry off a big rabbit or a small cat, but could do serious damage in a failed attempt. (Photo by Ann Nightingale)

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

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

While unlikely, a great horned owl could carry off a big rabbit or a small cat, but could do serious damage in a failed attempt. (Photo by Ann Nightingale)
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 cougar has been dispatched after it was spotted twice in the Selkirk Waterfront area of Victoria, Tuesday. (Nov. 21). (Photo supplied by VicPD)

Police kill cougar wandering through busy urban Victoria neighbourhood

‘Difficult decision’ made because animal was close to schools and homes

A cougar has been dispatched after it was spotted twice in the Selkirk Waterfront area of Victoria, Tuesday. (Nov. 21). (Photo supplied by VicPD)
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)
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 B.C. 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)