Wildlife

Winter Wonderland draws an unexpected visitor in Victoria’s Centennial Square. (Photo by Ken Lee)

PHOTOS: Owl spotting hits a high in Greater Victoria with amazing images

Share your owl or other wildlife photos/videos by emailing christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

 

An urban owl captured by the headlights of a passing car in View Royal. (Photo by Rob Byrch)

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

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

 

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

 

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 wolf-hybrid dog is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)

Volunteers ask people not to feed wolf-dog on loose near Parksville

Animal not yet hungry enough to enter baited trap

A wolf-hybrid dog is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)
A deer spotted near McKenzie Avenue Sunday (Oct. 29) with an arrow embedded in its torso. (Leo Spalteholz/X)

Deer running around with arrow stuck in it draws attention in Saanich

Conservation service actively looking for injured buck

A deer spotted near McKenzie Avenue Sunday (Oct. 29) with an arrow embedded in its torso. (Leo Spalteholz/X)
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 Oak Bay 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)
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)
A wolf-dog hyrid is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)

Efforts underway to humanely trap wolf-dog hybrid loose near Parksville

Animal control assessing potential trap locations on private land

A wolf-dog hyrid is on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)
A wolf-dog hybrid has been reported on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)

‘Aggressive’ wolf-dog hybrid reported on the loose outside of Parksville

B.C. Conservation Service aware of animal released by an owner

A wolf-dog hybrid has been reported on the loose outside of Parksville. (Photo courtesy Vaughan Roberts)
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
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)