Wildlife

Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)

Wild B.C. population of critically endangered spotted owl jumps from 1 to 4

Conservation made possible due to partnership between Spuzzum First Nation and provincial government

Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)
Giant Pacific octopus approaches Campbell River diver Andrea Humphreys during a friendly and unforgettable encounter near Campbell River Oct. 15, 2022. Screen capture from video by Andrea Humphreys

VIDEO: A sucker for a friendly face; octopus gloms onto diver for once-in-a-lifetime encounter

Diver off Campbell River spends amazing 40-minute session with a friendly octopus

Giant Pacific octopus approaches Campbell River diver Andrea Humphreys during a friendly and unforgettable encounter near Campbell River Oct. 15, 2022. Screen capture from video by Andrea Humphreys
Bear 747 in Katmai National Park in Alaska. (Screenshot via Explore.org)

747 reigns as Alaska park’s Fat Bear Week champion yet again

The large bear is preparing to hit snooze for winter at Katmai National Park

Bear 747 in Katmai National Park in Alaska. (Screenshot via Explore.org)
The brown marmorated stink bug, seen in an undated handout photo, is an invasive species in British Columbia. Experts say the aromatic insect is thriving thanks to unseasonably warm weather. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Warren Wong

Invasion of the stink bugs: Pest thrives in British Columbia’s warm October

Whiff of an unwelcome intruder across the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and parts of the Okanagan

The brown marmorated stink bug, seen in an undated handout photo, is an invasive species in British Columbia. Experts say the aromatic insect is thriving thanks to unseasonably warm weather. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Warren Wong
Black bears walk across the road near Lake Louise, Alberta, in June, 2020. An expert in bear behaviour says an attack on a family in northeastern B.C. that left two women with critical injuries appears to have been a rare example of a predacious attack by a black bear. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Bear expert says B.C. attack likely a rare case of a bear treating humans as food

Attack on family that sent three people to hospital appears to be a ‘predaceous’ incident

Black bears walk across the road near Lake Louise, Alberta, in June, 2020. An expert in bear behaviour says an attack on a family in northeastern B.C. that left two women with critical injuries appears to have been a rare example of a predacious attack by a black bear. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A landslide beside the Ecstall River was first seen during an overflight on Sept. 12. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) do not know the exact date the landslide occurred. (Photo: SkeenaWild Conservation Trust/Facebook)

Landslide in northwestern B.C. threatens up to 100,000 spawning salmon

The Ecstall River is an important spawning ground for coho, chum and chinook salmon

A landslide beside the Ecstall River was first seen during an overflight on Sept. 12. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) do not know the exact date the landslide occurred. (Photo: SkeenaWild Conservation Trust/Facebook)
A female sperm whale is seen breaching the water off the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, in a May 9, 2014, handout photo. As highly social animals, sperm whales live in small family groups called clans. These marine giants share similar codas or “dialects” belonging to the same cultural groups, also known as vocal clans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Mauricio Cantor

Sperm whales’ clicking dialects are evidence of ‘non-human culture’, say scientists

‘Codas’ used by whale groups to mark cultural identity, in a similar way to human ethnic dialects

A female sperm whale is seen breaching the water off the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, in a May 9, 2014, handout photo. As highly social animals, sperm whales live in small family groups called clans. These marine giants share similar codas or “dialects” belonging to the same cultural groups, also known as vocal clans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Mauricio Cantor
Lululemon founder Chip Wilson and his wife Summer Wilson laugh while speaking after announcing a $100 million donation to preserve and protect B.C.’s natural spaces through their Wilson 5 Foundation, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson gifts $100M to help preserve B.C.’s nature

Lululemon Athletica Inc. founder and billionaire Chip Wilson is donating $100 million…

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson and his wife Summer Wilson laugh while speaking after announcing a $100 million donation to preserve and protect B.C.’s natural spaces through their Wilson 5 Foundation, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - Luke DeGroote holds a Tennessee warbler for a closeup after getting caught in a long net at the Powdermill Avian Research center on May 8, 2018, near Rector, Pa. A new online atlas of bird migration, published on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, draws from an unprecedented number of scientific and community data sources to illustrate the routes of about 450 bird species in the Americas. (Darrell Sapp/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File)

New atlas of bird migration shows extraordinary journeys

Online collection illustrates the routes of about 450 bird species in the Americas

FILE - Luke DeGroote holds a Tennessee warbler for a closeup after getting caught in a long net at the Powdermill Avian Research center on May 8, 2018, near Rector, Pa. A new online atlas of bird migration, published on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, draws from an unprecedented number of scientific and community data sources to illustrate the routes of about 450 bird species in the Americas. (Darrell Sapp/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File)
Kangaroos sit in the sunshine on the edge of a golf course in Nelson Bay, Australia, Sunday, June 13, 2022. A 77-year-old man has died after a rare fatal kangaroo attack in remote southwest Australia, police said on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australian man killed by kangaroo in rare fatal attack

Police believe the victim had been keeping the wild kangaroo as a pet

Kangaroos sit in the sunshine on the edge of a golf course in Nelson Bay, Australia, Sunday, June 13, 2022. A 77-year-old man has died after a rare fatal kangaroo attack in remote southwest Australia, police said on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
A white sturgeon is seen in B.C. waters after being captured during sampling by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society in an undated handout photo. British Columbia government scientists are asking for the public’s help to solve a mystery after 11 of the iconic and endangered fish were recently found dead in the river in central B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society

River mystery: what is killing the giant sturgeon of B.C.’s Nechako River?

The bodies showed no visible external injuries and scientists don’t believe disease or chemicals are involved

A white sturgeon is seen in B.C. waters after being captured during sampling by the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society in an undated handout photo. British Columbia government scientists are asking for the public’s help to solve a mystery after 11 of the iconic and endangered fish were recently found dead in the river in central B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
Five dead sturgeons were found along the Fraser River in Haney on Sept. 10, 2022. (Sandy Atkin/Special to The News)

Large collection of sturgeon found dead along Fraser River

Local resident found 5 dead sturgeons while walking his dog on Saturday morning

Five dead sturgeons were found along the Fraser River in Haney on Sept. 10, 2022. (Sandy Atkin/Special to The News)
The Vancouver Aquarium says one of its Stellar sea lions has given birth to a healthy pup. The male pup (right), named Natoa, and his first-time mom, Rogue, are doing well.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Vancouver Aquarium

Stellar sea lion pup in Vancouver aids research to rebuild species in Alaska

Alaska has seen a decline or disappearance of up to 75 per cent of its wild sea lions

The Vancouver Aquarium says one of its Stellar sea lions has given birth to a healthy pup. The male pup (right), named Natoa, and his first-time mom, Rogue, are doing well.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Vancouver Aquarium
This stuffed armadillo showed up in a Chilliwack resident’s front garden on Sept. 5, 2022. (Brett Chomlack photo)

Stuffed armadillo that showed up in B.C. man’s garden is a mystery

‘If the armadillo is yours and was stolen from your yard, come get it, it’s weird’ says homeowner

This stuffed armadillo showed up in a Chilliwack resident’s front garden on Sept. 5, 2022. (Brett Chomlack photo)
Bruce Turnbull - “Bighorns in battle”
Bruce Turnbull - “Bighorns in battle”
Two red panda cubs, one male and one female, were born at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove earlier this summer – on or around June 14. (Greater Vancouver Zoo/Special to The Star)

VIDEO: Births of red panda cubs important step

Aldergrove’s Greater Vancouver Zoo part of a much larger species survival plan

  • Aug 28, 2022
Two red panda cubs, one male and one female, were born at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove earlier this summer – on or around June 14. (Greater Vancouver Zoo/Special to The Star)
(Ivan Hardwick photo)

UBC Okanagan researcher urging fur trap changes as grizzlies keep losing toes

Four out of 57 collared bears were missing toes

  • Aug 25, 2022
(Ivan Hardwick photo)
Jared Towers photographed this humpback whale and four others in 2018 near Port McNeill, Alert Bay, and Hanson Island. JARED TOWERS PHOTO

Discovery Islands resurfacing as a B.C. humpback hot spot

Gentle giants returning to waters of northeastern Vancouver Island and not just passing through

  • Aug 25, 2022
Jared Towers photographed this humpback whale and four others in 2018 near Port McNeill, Alert Bay, and Hanson Island. JARED TOWERS PHOTO
A black bear caught in a trap in Port Alice near the end of August. (Brian Grover/Port Alice News and Views Facebook photo)

Four bears killed this month in Vancouver Island village, here’s why

Conservation officers euthanize 4 animals habituated to gorging on village’s overflowing dumpsters

A black bear caught in a trap in Port Alice near the end of August. (Brian Grover/Port Alice News and Views Facebook photo)
This black bear was caught on video playing with the water feature in South Okanagan West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings’ backyard on Sunday. (Twitter)

VIDEO: Black bear plays in B.C. MP’s bird bath

Richard Cannings shared a video of the bear playing with a water fountain

This black bear was caught on video playing with the water feature in South Okanagan West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings’ backyard on Sunday. (Twitter)