Wildlife

In this Thursday, April 6, 2023, image provided by Providence Alaska, a moose stands inside a Providence Alaska Health Park medical building in Anchorage, Alaska. The moose chomped on plants in the lobby until security was able to shoo it out, but not before people stopped by to take photos of the moose. (Providence Alaska via AP)

Moose feasts on lobby plants in Alaska hospital building

Hungry animal finds some comfortable feasting in Anchorage, attracts quite a crowd

In this Thursday, April 6, 2023, image provided by Providence Alaska, a moose stands inside a Providence Alaska Health Park medical building in Anchorage, Alaska. The moose chomped on plants in the lobby until security was able to shoo it out, but not before people stopped by to take photos of the moose. (Providence Alaska via AP)
There’s a family of four red pandas at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, following the delivery of twin cubs – one girl, one boy – last June. They have now been named. (Greater Vancouver Zoo/Special to The Star)

Tens of thousands suggest names for Aldergrove’s red panda cubs

Among the newest residents at Greater Vancouver Zoo, Mei Mei and brother, Maple, are newly named

There’s a family of four red pandas at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, following the delivery of twin cubs – one girl, one boy – last June. They have now been named. (Greater Vancouver Zoo/Special to The Star)
Dire wolf skulls found in La Brea Tar Pits are on display at the George C. Page Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, in Los Angeles. The museum celebrates a century of excavation at the La Brea Tar Pits, considered the richest and most diverse collection of Ice Age fossils. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Scientists confirm first Canadian fossil of Ice Age predator the dire wolf

Specimen found near Medicine Hat confirmed years after being found

Dire wolf skulls found in La Brea Tar Pits are on display at the George C. Page Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, in Los Angeles. The museum celebrates a century of excavation at the La Brea Tar Pits, considered the richest and most diverse collection of Ice Age fossils. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A person holds a mummified Arctic ground squirrel uncovered near Dawson City, Yukon, in an undated handout photo. The 30,000-year-old animal is set to go on display this May at Whitehorse’s Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Yukon Territorial Government

‘Amazing story of survival’: 30,000-year-old mummified ground squirrel found in Yukon

Remains, believed to be an animal that died while hibernating, found by miners

A person holds a mummified Arctic ground squirrel uncovered near Dawson City, Yukon, in an undated handout photo. The 30,000-year-old animal is set to go on display this May at Whitehorse’s Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Yukon Territorial Government
A Myotis Bat is caught by Utah Division of Natural Resources Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A fungus that has led to some Canadian bat populations becoming endangered has been found in British Columbia. The province’s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says the fungus that causes white nose syndrome, which has no proven treatment, has been detected in bat guano in the Grand Forks area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/The Spectrum-Elle Cabrera-via AP

Fungus that causes deadly white nose syndrome among bats detected in B.C. guano

Fungus is primarily spread by bat-to-bat contact and doesn’t affect humans

A Myotis Bat is caught by Utah Division of Natural Resources Wednesday, May 26, 2021. A fungus that has led to some Canadian bat populations becoming endangered has been found in British Columbia. The province’s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says the fungus that causes white nose syndrome, which has no proven treatment, has been detected in bat guano in the Grand Forks area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/The Spectrum-Elle Cabrera-via AP
Denise Foster of the French Creek Estuary Nature Preserve releases the rehabilitated eagle back to its natural elements, with North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre’s Animal care supervisor Derek Downes assisting her. (Deb Freeman photo)

Vancouver Island wildlife recovery centre releases rehabilitated eagle

Save Estuary Land Society member selected to free bird of prey

Denise Foster of the French Creek Estuary Nature Preserve releases the rehabilitated eagle back to its natural elements, with North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre’s Animal care supervisor Derek Downes assisting her. (Deb Freeman photo)
A bald eagle dubbed ‘Brit’ shows the egg laid on March 24, 2023. She and partner Rey live in a South Surrey nest near 0 Avenue and 172 Street and followers are watching closely to see if there will be any more eggs for the pair. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)

UPDATE: One egg observed in second B.C. bald eagle nest

VIDEO: White Rock and South Surrey bald eagles hopeful parents-to-be with three eggs laid

A bald eagle dubbed ‘Brit’ shows the egg laid on March 24, 2023. She and partner Rey live in a South Surrey nest near 0 Avenue and 172 Street and followers are watching closely to see if there will be any more eggs for the pair. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)
There's a family of four red pandas at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, following the delivery of twin cubs – one girl, one boy – last June. Now they need names. (Screengrab Greater Vancouver Zoo)

Aldergrove zoo asks celebrity to help name red panda cubs

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds encouraged to submit names for the twins

There's a family of four red pandas at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, following the delivery of twin cubs – one girl, one boy – last June. Now they need names. (Screengrab Greater Vancouver Zoo)
A pair of bald eagle parents-to-be are carefully taking care of two eggs, laid March 17 and March 20. Two other pairs in Delta and South Surrey appear to be making efforts toward breeding eggs of their own, all visible on 24/7 live camera streams on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation website. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)

VIDEO: This pair of B.C. bald eagles are expecting: 2 eggs seen in nest through livestream

Live cameras streaming other nests where watchers are hopeful more eggs will appear

A pair of bald eagle parents-to-be are carefully taking care of two eggs, laid March 17 and March 20. Two other pairs in Delta and South Surrey appear to be making efforts toward breeding eggs of their own, all visible on 24/7 live camera streams on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation website. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)
A coyote walks through Coronation Park in Toronto on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. Now that coyote denning season is in full swing, the Vancouver park board is offering some tips for a “peaceful coexistence” between the animals and humans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler

Vancouver park board offers tips on how to ‘respect’ city’s coyotes

Animals can become bolder in the spring or stand their ground if they perceive a threat

A coyote walks through Coronation Park in Toronto on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. Now that coyote denning season is in full swing, the Vancouver park board is offering some tips for a “peaceful coexistence” between the animals and humans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler
FILE - Southern Resident killer whale J50 and her mother, J16, swim off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C. on Aug. 7, 2018. (Brian Gisborne/Fisheries and Oceans Canada via AP, File)

Researchers: Inbreeding a big problem for endangered orcas

Whales are so inbred that they are dying younger and their population is not recovering

FILE - Southern Resident killer whale J50 and her mother, J16, swim off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C. on Aug. 7, 2018. (Brian Gisborne/Fisheries and Oceans Canada via AP, File)
A biologist and wild horse researcher is calling for stronger federal and provincial protections for the animals after 17 carcasses were found in rural British Columbia. Wild horse mares walk along an oil and gas roadway on crown land near Sundre, Alta., Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Researcher calls for more wild horse protections after 17 shot dead in rural B.C.

Animals found about 65 kilometres west of Kamloops, near Walhachin

A biologist and wild horse researcher is calling for stronger federal and provincial protections for the animals after 17 carcasses were found in rural British Columbia. Wild horse mares walk along an oil and gas roadway on crown land near Sundre, Alta., Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
This is a file photo of wild horses on Highway 97 near Red Wings. (Western News file photo)

‘Disheartening act’: 17 wild horses found shot in area west of Kamloops

The animals were all recently shot; RCMP are investigating

This is a file photo of wild horses on Highway 97 near Red Wings. (Western News file photo)
A skunk is seen in an undated handout photo. Eight skunks found dead last month in Vancouver and nearby Richmond, B.C., tested positive for avian flu. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Critter Care Wildlife Society

Eight skunks found dead in Metro Vancouver had avian flu: government

Skunks may have contracted H5N1 by scavenging on infected wild birds

A skunk is seen in an undated handout photo. Eight skunks found dead last month in Vancouver and nearby Richmond, B.C., tested positive for avian flu. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Critter Care Wildlife Society
FILE - A northern spotted owl, named Obsidian by U.S. Forest Service employees, sits in a tree in the Deschutes National Forest near Camp Sherman, Ore., in this May 8, 2003 file photo. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

Province halts old-growth logging in at-risk owl territory another two years

Old-growth suspension in the Spuzzum and Utzilus watersheds extended until February 2025

FILE - A northern spotted owl, named Obsidian by U.S. Forest Service employees, sits in a tree in the Deschutes National Forest near Camp Sherman, Ore., in this May 8, 2003 file photo. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)
Boris the walrus is shown in a handout photo from the Quebec Aquarium. Canada’s three remaining captive walruses, including Boris, have been moved to a new marine park in Abu Dhabi. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Quebec Aquarium

Last captive walruses in Canada moved to new SeaWorld in Abu Dhabi

Boris, Smooshi and her baby, Koyuk, arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday

Boris the walrus is shown in a handout photo from the Quebec Aquarium. Canada’s three remaining captive walruses, including Boris, have been moved to a new marine park in Abu Dhabi. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Quebec Aquarium
(Black Press Media stock image)

Rogue raccoon recesses class at Kelowna school

South Kelowna Elementary closed for the day after a visit by a raccoon

(Black Press Media stock image)
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault rises during Question Period, Thursday, February 16, 2023 in Ottawa. Two environmental groups and a British Columbia First Nation say the federal government is recommending an order to protect the critically at-risk northern spotted owl. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal protection proposed for critically at-risk spotted owls in B.C., groups say

Just three of the tiny owls are known to be in the wild in B.C.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault rises during Question Period, Thursday, February 16, 2023 in Ottawa. Two environmental groups and a British Columbia First Nation say the federal government is recommending an order to protect the critically at-risk northern spotted owl. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A pod of orcas surfaces in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June 22, 2018. Researchers say British Columbia’s southern resident killer whales are not only threatened by the decline of the general salmon population but also the reduction in high-quality fatty salmon, the whales’ preferred meal. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

B.C. study links killer whale decline to lack of energy-rich fatty salmon

UBC scientists find that all salmon are not created equal when it comes to being a food source

A pod of orcas surfaces in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June 22, 2018. Researchers say British Columbia’s southern resident killer whales are not only threatened by the decline of the general salmon population but also the reduction in high-quality fatty salmon, the whales’ preferred meal. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
A May 2014 file photo shows a horseshoe crab burrowing into the sand on a beach in Middle Township N.J. to lay eggs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Wayne Parry

B.C. diver finds horseshoe crab: ‘I knew immediately it wasn’t supposed to be here’

‘I sincerely think this isn’t a biology story, it’s a waste management story’

A May 2014 file photo shows a horseshoe crab burrowing into the sand on a beach in Middle Township N.J. to lay eggs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Wayne Parry