Environment

A beautiful sunset over Crofton in July. (Sandra Smith photo)

Island rainfall way above normal despite heatwave during latter part of July

Minimal amount of precipitation expected well into August

 

Save Old Growth announced its impending return to action with a series of vandalism across Vancouver July 28. On Aug. 2, the group ran its first traffic blockade in a month near Stanley Park. (Save Old Growth website/screenshot)

Save Old Growth resumes B.C. traffic disruptions with Vancouver blockade

Environmental group back in action after 1 month pause

 

FILE - Climate activists Elizabeth Wathuti of Kenia, Vanessa Nakate of Uganda and Helena Gualinga of Ecuador attend the climate protest alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, May 26, 2022. A group of top climate scientists say the world needs to think about the ultimate climate catastrophe, human extinction, and how possible it is. They are calling on the world’s main climate science body to look at the ultimate climate catastrophes, no matter how remotely unlikely they are. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Chances of climate catastrophe are ignored, scientists say

“I do not believe civilization as we know it will make it out of this century”: B.C. scientist

 

An Oak Bay Police Department car parked outside the office on Monterey Avenue. (Black Press Media file photo)

Activist group deflates SUV tires in Victoria, Oak Bay

The group, called Tyre Extinguishers, wants to eliminate SUVs in cities

An Oak Bay Police Department car parked outside the office on Monterey Avenue. (Black Press Media file photo)
Royal Roads University has launched a free pilot program for Indigenous students to earn a certificate in Indigenous Environmental Leadership. (Black Press Media file photo)

Royal Roads University in Colwood boosts Indigenous environmental leadership

Initial pilot for free program will see 20 students work toward certificate

Royal Roads University has launched a free pilot program for Indigenous students to earn a certificate in Indigenous Environmental Leadership. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sign that greeted residents upon entry into the Crofton Community Centre last Wednesday. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Mapping of Chemainus River floodplain to aid in future flooding risks

Magnitude and complexity of the problem clear, but there’s no quick and easy solution

Sign that greeted residents upon entry into the Crofton Community Centre last Wednesday. (Photo by Don Bodger)
As plastic continues to pollute the ocean, Oceana Canada is calling on the government action (credit Oceana Canada/Elemental).

Plastic predicament: Federal group urges action on packaging legislation in Canada

Oceana Canada is calling on the government to reduce the amount of harmful single-use plastics

As plastic continues to pollute the ocean, Oceana Canada is calling on the government action (credit Oceana Canada/Elemental).
FILE - Wildfires burning hundreds of miles away create smoky conditions Monday, June 13, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska’s remarkable wildfire season includes over 530 blazes that have burned an area more than three times the size of Rhode Island, with nearly all the impacts, including dangerous breathing conditions from smoke, attributed to fires started by lightning. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Alaska experiencing wildfires it’s never seen before

530 wildfires already recorded this year, worst of season yet to come

FILE - Wildfires burning hundreds of miles away create smoky conditions Monday, June 13, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska’s remarkable wildfire season includes over 530 blazes that have burned an area more than three times the size of Rhode Island, with nearly all the impacts, including dangerous breathing conditions from smoke, attributed to fires started by lightning. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
A polar bear is seen walking along the road in Churchill, Man. Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Climate change and human impacts on the land are behind a growing number of encounters between people and polar bears around the Arctic, new research concludes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Landfills and climate change increasing polar bear-human conflicts in Arctic: report

Climate change diminishing food supply for bears, while making the Arctic more hospitable for humans

A polar bear is seen walking along the road in Churchill, Man. Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Climate change and human impacts on the land are behind a growing number of encounters between people and polar bears around the Arctic, new research concludes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
What is likely a red-eared slider turtle, was spotted swimming in Bowker Creek multiple times by local residents in 2021. (File - Courtesy of Dawn Williamson)

Coolkit program inspires Oak Bay ‘hood to host ice cream social

Bee and Bowker neighbourhood invites residents interested in action on climate change

What is likely a red-eared slider turtle, was spotted swimming in Bowker Creek multiple times by local residents in 2021. (File - Courtesy of Dawn Williamson)
Burnaby vet technician Jocelyn Marsh shows off part of her pill bottle return program. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

B.C. veterinarian has plan to eliminate millions of pieces of plastic from Canadian clinics

Very simple changes can have a large impact if adopted broadly, Jocelyn Marsh says

Burnaby vet technician Jocelyn Marsh shows off part of her pill bottle return program. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
A pitch to add more tree protection requirements into the City of Langford’s rezoning process fell on mostly deaf ears at Monday’s (July 18) council meeting. (Black Press Media file photo)

Langford council votes down another tree protection policy pitch from Szpak

Coun. Lillian Szpak points to resident concerns over tree loss, climate change

A pitch to add more tree protection requirements into the City of Langford’s rezoning process fell on mostly deaf ears at Monday’s (July 18) council meeting. (Black Press Media file photo)
The caterpillar of a spongy (formerly gypsy) moth is distinctive, and microscopic at the start of its life. (Courtesy Davey Tree)

These 3 pests with rising populations can decimate foliage: Victoria arborist

The spongy moth is dangerous as ever despite government intervention

The caterpillar of a spongy (formerly gypsy) moth is distinctive, and microscopic at the start of its life. (Courtesy Davey Tree)
Volunteers work to pull invasive species out of the forest at the Queenswood property in Saanich on June 26. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)

Green team volunteers tackle invasive species on UVic property in Saanich

Invasive species pull the third visit to Queenswood, next one planned for July 23

Volunteers work to pull invasive species out of the forest at the Queenswood property in Saanich on June 26. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)
Reynolds secondary teacher Heather Coey was presented with the Long Term Achievement award as part of the 2022 Saanich Environmental Awards handed out at the June 20 council meeting. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich environmental champions honoured with awards

Winners recognized in multiple categories for environmental stewardship

Reynolds secondary teacher Heather Coey was presented with the Long Term Achievement award as part of the 2022 Saanich Environmental Awards handed out at the June 20 council meeting. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
A colder, wetter spring may not necessarily mean an influx of mosquitoes in Nanaimo and elsewhere in B.C., says an entomologist at the University of B.C. (Stock photo)

Colder spring may not mean population boom for Vancouver Island mosquitoes

Entomologist discusses weather’s effects on the irritating insect

A colder, wetter spring may not necessarily mean an influx of mosquitoes in Nanaimo and elsewhere in B.C., says an entomologist at the University of B.C. (Stock photo)
The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount — Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

West Coast expedition off B.C. explores never-before-seen deep-sea habitat

‘We are going to habitats that nobody’s mapped before, that nobody’s seen before’

The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount — Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
The Peninsula Streams Society is hosting an information and volunteer session June 27 on the work it has done and will be doing to restore the Millstream watershed, including the installation of a fishway at the Atkins Road culvert which was completed in 2020. (Courtesy Peninsula Streams Society)

Streams society aims to get West Shore community more involved with Langford project

Millstream watershed info session runs June 27

The Peninsula Streams Society is hosting an information and volunteer session June 27 on the work it has done and will be doing to restore the Millstream watershed, including the installation of a fishway at the Atkins Road culvert which was completed in 2020. (Courtesy Peninsula Streams Society)
The move to ban single-use plastics will prevent 33 billion units of forks, bags, six-pack rings and other plastics from landfills. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Single-use plastic ban a ‘monumental’ step in protecting Canada’s oceans: advocate

Canada is planning phased-in ban on the manufacture, import, sale and export of plastics

The move to ban single-use plastics will prevent 33 billion units of forks, bags, six-pack rings and other plastics from landfills. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
A northern red-legged frog pictured in 2020. (Photo/Robin Doty Blymyer)

Nature Trust of B.C. protecting nearly 150 acres of rare Gulf Island climate zone

143.5-acres purchase aims to protect endangered species in new conservation zone on Saturna Island

A northern red-legged frog pictured in 2020. (Photo/Robin Doty Blymyer)