Wildlife

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)
An environmental group is in Federal Court in Vancouver challenging what it describes as Ottawa’s failure to protect the endangered northern spotted owl despite an “imminent threat” to its recovery. In this May 8, 2003 file photo, a northern spotted owl sits on a tree in the Deschutes National Forest near Camp Sherman, Ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Don Ryan

Environmentalists in B.C. court to force spotted owl protection action

Group wants emergency federal order to halt ‘imminent threat’ in Fraser Canyon

An environmental group is in Federal Court in Vancouver challenging what it describes as Ottawa’s failure to protect the endangered northern spotted owl despite an “imminent threat” to its recovery. In this May 8, 2003 file photo, a northern spotted owl sits on a tree in the Deschutes National Forest near Camp Sherman, Ore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Don Ryan
In this photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, Sophia, an orangutan, takes a bite out of a pumpkin to get to the gooey pulp and seeds, at Brookfield Zoo, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, in Brookfield, Ill. This week, several animals at Brookfield Zoo received Halloween treats, pumpkins, for enrichment. (Jim Schulz/Chicago Zoological Society via AP)

Zoos go boo: botanical and animal gardens embracing Halloween fun

Zoos and botanical gardens have become increasingly popular Halloween destinations

In this photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, Sophia, an orangutan, takes a bite out of a pumpkin to get to the gooey pulp and seeds, at Brookfield Zoo, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, in Brookfield, Ill. This week, several animals at Brookfield Zoo received Halloween treats, pumpkins, for enrichment. (Jim Schulz/Chicago Zoological Society via AP)
A sulcatta tortoise named Frank the Tank, shown in this recent handout photo, is looking for a new home after being found wandering around Richmond, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Dewdney Animal Hospital

Plucked from fields of bok choy, B.C. tortoise Frank the Tank needs a home

SPCA rescues 16-kilogram sulcata tortoise spotted wandering slowly through Richmond

A sulcatta tortoise named Frank the Tank, shown in this recent handout photo, is looking for a new home after being found wandering around Richmond, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Dewdney Animal Hospital
Small Eyes, a Northern Spotted Owl, at the Spuzzum First Nation’s First Fish Ceremony on July 29, 2023. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)

Federal government rejects emergency order to protect Northern Spotted Owl habitat

Members of Spuzzum First Nation “furious” at federal government

Small Eyes, a Northern Spotted Owl, at the Spuzzum First Nation’s First Fish Ceremony on July 29, 2023. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)
A grizzly bear and its two cubs are seen in the Khutzeymateen Inlet near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

The grizzly truth? B.C. conservationists say bears need more food, habitat

Advocates say draft stewardship plan could be ‘disastrous’ for provincial grizzly population

A grizzly bear and its two cubs are seen in the Khutzeymateen Inlet near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
A coyote walks through Coronation Park in Toronto on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Prince George Conservation and RCMP officers are “actively investigating” after six coyote attacks within a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler

Coyotes attacking the homeless in Prince George

Authorities issue warning after 6 attacks in a week, most against city’s unhoused

A coyote walks through Coronation Park in Toronto on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Prince George Conservation and RCMP officers are “actively investigating” after six coyote attacks within a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler
B.C. conservation officers say four unhoused people were bitten by a coyote in downtown Prince George Sept. 26. They say aggressive coyote behaviour is likely the result of people feeding them. (Photo courtesy of B.C. Conservation Officer Service)

Coyote attacks 4 unhoused people in downtown Prince George overnight

Injuries non-life-threatening, but 3 people in hospital

B.C. conservation officers say four unhoused people were bitten by a coyote in downtown Prince George Sept. 26. They say aggressive coyote behaviour is likely the result of people feeding them. (Photo courtesy of B.C. Conservation Officer Service)
Residents are urged to not feed wildlife, or leave garbage or food out for them to access. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Don’t feed the wildlife: B.C. city urges animal-smart behaviour

Residents reminded to harvest fruits, nuts, vegetables and keep attractants secured

Residents are urged to not feed wildlife, or leave garbage or food out for them to access. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
University of British Columbia master’s student Megan Winand holds a frog in this undated handout photo. Winand is one of the first to study the impacts of mitigation translocation, or the movement of animals from one location to “the next available habitat that is of the same or better value than where they came from.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Madeline Woodley

B.C. frog relocation project aims to better understand conservation practice

Frogs are an indicator species, meaning they’re often the first to reveal when something is amiss

University of British Columbia master’s student Megan Winand holds a frog in this undated handout photo. Winand is one of the first to study the impacts of mitigation translocation, or the movement of animals from one location to “the next available habitat that is of the same or better value than where they came from.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Madeline Woodley
A young mule deer buck walks across a lawn in 100 Mile House. In B.C.’s Southern Interior, poop samples taken from mule deer show their stress levels increased during wildfires. (Patrick Davies/100 Mile Free Press)

B.C. mule deer stressed by wildfire, but still much to learn about impacts

Poop samples reveal elevated levels of cortisol

A young mule deer buck walks across a lawn in 100 Mile House. In B.C.’s Southern Interior, poop samples taken from mule deer show their stress levels increased during wildfires. (Patrick Davies/100 Mile Free Press)
It’s time to take stock of how important your feeder is to the local hummingbird population, such as this Anna’s in Greater Victoria. (Photo by Jon Moran)

B.C. hummingbird lovers asked to renew their commitment as winter nears

Anna’s hummingbirds wintering across the south coast of B.C. depend on people

It’s time to take stock of how important your feeder is to the local hummingbird population, such as this Anna’s in Greater Victoria. (Photo by Jon Moran)
Tashi Townley took this photo of a Mola mola in Kyuoquot Sound being observed by Megan Komori-Kennedy and Violet Komori. Marine Education Resource Society Facebook.

Hola Mola! Researchers tracking massive tropical fish off Vancouver Island

Marine Education Resource Society is collecting data on sightings from the public

  • Sep 13, 2023
Tashi Townley took this photo of a Mola mola in Kyuoquot Sound being observed by Megan Komori-Kennedy and Violet Komori. Marine Education Resource Society Facebook.
Rescue helpers of the Red Cross enter the Hellbrunn Zoo in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Police say a rhino at a zoo in Austria has attacked and killed a zookeeper and seriously injured another. The fatal attack happened early Tuesday morning at the Hellbrunn zoo in the western Austrian city of Salzburg. Police said in a statement that during routine work in the rhino enclosure, a 33-year-old animal keeper was attacked by the animal ‘for reasons that are still unknown’. (AP Photo)

Rhino kills zookeeper in Austria, injures her husband

Not clear at this point why the animal attacked while ‘careful’ keeper tried to apply insect repellant

Rescue helpers of the Red Cross enter the Hellbrunn Zoo in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Police say a rhino at a zoo in Austria has attacked and killed a zookeeper and seriously injured another. The fatal attack happened early Tuesday morning at the Hellbrunn zoo in the western Austrian city of Salzburg. Police said in a statement that during routine work in the rhino enclosure, a 33-year-old animal keeper was attacked by the animal ‘for reasons that are still unknown’. (AP Photo)
The big guy is 704 pounds as he starts prepping for fall snacking. (Instagram)

Last chance to see Boo the bear in Golden before winter slumber

Visit Boo the bear until Sept. 23

The big guy is 704 pounds as he starts prepping for fall snacking. (Instagram)
Bert a racing pigeon from Nanaimo ended up near Williams Lake in August. (BCSPCA Williams Lake photo)

Nanaimo racing pigeon ends up 743 km off course near Williams Lake

Bert was released on Aug. 17 from home

Bert a racing pigeon from Nanaimo ended up near Williams Lake in August. (BCSPCA Williams Lake photo)
A sign has been put up in Vernon's Polson Park after a sighting of a black bear was confirmed on Monday, Aug. 28. (Contributed)

Bear breaking into B.C. homeless tents euthanized

Conservation Officers removed the black bear from a Vernon park Friday morning

A sign has been put up in Vernon's Polson Park after a sighting of a black bear was confirmed on Monday, Aug. 28. (Contributed)
About 160 firefighters battling a blaze in the British Columbia Interior have had to pull out of their camp after they were subjected to what the BC Wildfire Service calls "persistent bear activity." The Downton Lake wildfire near Gold Bridge, B.C., burns in this recent handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Scavenging bears force 160 B.C. firefighters to pack up camp

Neither firefighters, not bears hurt, but their persistent presence deemed unsafe near Lillo0et

About 160 firefighters battling a blaze in the British Columbia Interior have had to pull out of their camp after they were subjected to what the BC Wildfire Service calls "persistent bear activity." The Downton Lake wildfire near Gold Bridge, B.C., burns in this recent handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Forest ecologist Becky Miller showing the flammability of a grand fur tree. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Why Parks Canada wants to eradicate invasive deer from B.C. island

As pushback mounts, advocates answer questions about process and timeline of Victoria area project

Forest ecologist Becky Miller showing the flammability of a grand fur tree. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Boo enjoying his ice bath. (Kicking Horse Refuge)

Hot days, cool treats for Golden’s Boo the bear

Keeping Boo safe and cool has been a priority for the refuge

Boo enjoying his ice bath. (Kicking Horse Refuge)