Wildlife

A deer is seen at the Michel-Chartrand Park in Longueuil, Que., Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. The continuing spread of a fatal wildlife disease in Alberta and Saskatchewan has a federal agency recommending a deer cull across a wide swath of the Prairies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Spreading wildlife disease threatens deer, elk — and maybe humans, new research says

Alberta found 11 per cent of animals submitted by hunters tested positive

A deer is seen at the Michel-Chartrand Park in Longueuil, Que., Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. The continuing spread of a fatal wildlife disease in Alberta and Saskatchewan has a federal agency recommending a deer cull across a wide swath of the Prairies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Signs at the entrance of a park warn of the danger of coyotes in Montreal on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. A two-year-old girl is recovering from bite wounds after she was attacked by a coyote while walking through Stanley Park, in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Warning about aggressive coyotes after toddler attacked, bitten, in Stanley Park

Conservation Officer Service says the coyote jumped on the girl but ran off when her father intervened

Signs at the entrance of a park warn of the danger of coyotes in Montreal on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. A two-year-old girl is recovering from bite wounds after she was attacked by a coyote while walking through Stanley Park, in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Seal pups like this one are common sights in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and dog owners are urged to leash their pets to ensure seals and other wildlife are not disrupted. (Pacific Rim National Park photo)

Off-leash dog harasses baby seal on Vancouver Island beach

Seal retreats to water after being nipped at Wickaninnish Beach

Seal pups like this one are common sights in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and dog owners are urged to leash their pets to ensure seals and other wildlife are not disrupted. (Pacific Rim National Park photo)
New sections of Highway 14 in Sooke will include culverts that double as animal crossings thanks to public feedback. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

Safe animal crossings added to Sooke highway design

Public feedback made a difference in many areas of Highway 14 project

New sections of Highway 14 in Sooke will include culverts that double as animal crossings thanks to public feedback. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
A bear showed up as a runner was gearing up for a job at Burnaby Lake Park. (kmwhitter/Twitter)

VIDEO: Bear interrupts man’s run in Metro Vancouver park

Bear has been spotted multiple times at Burnaby Lake Park

A bear showed up as a runner was gearing up for a job at Burnaby Lake Park. (kmwhitter/Twitter)
South Surrey’s Jacek Kaim got an honourable mention in last year’s contest for this photo of a skunk family. (Jacek Kaim photo)

BC SPCA invites amateur photographers to ‘go wild’ for annual competition

Deadline for Wildlife-In-Focus contest, open to anyone 14 and over, is July 26

South Surrey’s Jacek Kaim got an honourable mention in last year’s contest for this photo of a skunk family. (Jacek Kaim photo)
Black bears are searching for food while they wait for berries to ripen on the West Coast and that means it’s vital for all residents and visitors to secure their attractants and keep their garbage indoors. (Westerly file photo)

Bear killed after frequenting campground in Ucluelet

Bear activity picking up in Tofino and Ucluelet as WildSafeBC urges people to secure attractants

Black bears are searching for food while they wait for berries to ripen on the West Coast and that means it’s vital for all residents and visitors to secure their attractants and keep their garbage indoors. (Westerly file photo)
Oak Bay Sea Rescue members pull a dead elk off the McNeill Bay shoreline on June 30. (Photo courtesy of Royal Canadian Marine Sea and Rescue Station 33)

Oak Bay Sea Rescue members haul dead elk off McNeill Bay

Antlered carcass was towed through water to Cattle Point on Wednesday

Oak Bay Sea Rescue members pull a dead elk off the McNeill Bay shoreline on June 30. (Photo courtesy of Royal Canadian Marine Sea and Rescue Station 33)
Esquimalt council voted unanimously June 28 to have staff produce a report on possible residential fencing options to keep deer out of people’s yards. (Black Press Media file photo)

Esquimalt may allow higher fences to restrain hungry deer

Council asked staff to look into the options and report back later this summer

Esquimalt council voted unanimously June 28 to have staff produce a report on possible residential fencing options to keep deer out of people’s yards. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Pacific Whale Watching Association is urging people not to release balloons as they pose a serious risk to land-based and marine wildlife. (Photo by Pacific Whale Watching Association)

Helium balloons used in Greater Victoria can harm marine life: whale watching group

Balloons often wind up in ocean, potentially ingested by whales, other sea mammals

The Pacific Whale Watching Association is urging people not to release balloons as they pose a serious risk to land-based and marine wildlife. (Photo by Pacific Whale Watching Association)
A tagged deer in Oak Bay, where a deer contraceptive study is underway. Esquimalt will soon follow suit after receiving approval for its own study from the province recently. (Black Press Media file photo)

Esquimalt proceeding with birth control study on deer

Up to 100 does to be vaccinated with immunocontraceptive, tagged and given booster in 2023

A tagged deer in Oak Bay, where a deer contraceptive study is underway. Esquimalt will soon follow suit after receiving approval for its own study from the province recently. (Black Press Media file photo)
A sign outside the Westshore Town Centre warning patrons of a nearby bird. (Michelle Cabana/ News Staff)

Langford shopping centre patrons asked to not bother mama bird nearby

Centre says the swooping starling isn’t harmful and is being protective of fledglings

A sign outside the Westshore Town Centre warning patrons of a nearby bird. (Michelle Cabana/ News Staff)
B.C. conservation officer Sgt. Todd Hunter said a black bear is believed to have killed local livestock. (THE NEWS/files)

Black bear believed to have killed miniature donkey in Maple Ridge

Trap set for predator that has been killing livestock

B.C. conservation officer Sgt. Todd Hunter said a black bear is believed to have killed local livestock. (THE NEWS/files)
Karl and Stephanie Ann Johanson were thrilled to spot a pair of Sandhill Cranes in the Panama Flats this month, an unusual appearance for such birds. (Photo by Stephanie Ann Johanson)

WATCH: Sandhill cranes an unusual, joyful sight in southern Vancouver Island

A Saanich couple was thrilled to spot a pair of sandhill cranes…

Karl and Stephanie Ann Johanson were thrilled to spot a pair of Sandhill Cranes in the Panama Flats this month, an unusual appearance for such birds. (Photo by Stephanie Ann Johanson)
Wild rabbits are all over Chilliwack, but people often think they’re someone’s lost pet and try to ‘save’ them. But the owner of Chilliwack’s Reptile Room says good intentions can have bad consequences for wild animals. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Owner of Chilliwack’s Reptile Room asks people to leave wild animals in the wild

Amber Quiring says people who think they’re helping are actually doing more harm than good

Wild rabbits are all over Chilliwack, but people often think they’re someone’s lost pet and try to ‘save’ them. But the owner of Chilliwack’s Reptile Room says good intentions can have bad consequences for wild animals. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The barred owl is the most likely to be spotted in the south Island. (Ann Nightingale photo)

Barred owls dominate Greater Victoria owl-scape

Western screech owl population decimated, partly due to barred owls

The barred owl is the most likely to be spotted in the south Island. (Ann Nightingale photo)
Members of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Marine Mammal Response Program rescued an adult humpback what that was entangled in commercial fishing gear in the waters off of Entrance Island on Thursday, June 10. (Photo courtesy Marine Mammal Response Program)

Rescuers free humpback ‘anchored’ down by prawn traps off Vancouver Island

Department of Fisheries and Oceans responders spend hours untangling whale

Members of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Marine Mammal Response Program rescued an adult humpback what that was entangled in commercial fishing gear in the waters off of Entrance Island on Thursday, June 10. (Photo courtesy Marine Mammal Response Program)
Sam Fait takes a break to enjoy the view from the mountains east of Williams Lake. (Williams Lake Tribune photo)

Hunters join forces with conservationists to call on B.C. to protect fish and wildlife habitat

Unlikely alliance includes fishers, trappers, naturalists and conservation organizations

Sam Fait takes a break to enjoy the view from the mountains east of Williams Lake. (Williams Lake Tribune photo)
The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin saw 16 fawns come through in May, with another four in the first four days of June. (Courtesy Wild ARC)

An abandoned fawn doesn’t mean it’s orphaned, reminds Greater Victoria wildlife expert

20 orphaned fawns turned in to Wild ARC in Metchosin so far this season

The BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin saw 16 fawns come through in May, with another four in the first four days of June. (Courtesy Wild ARC)
Founder and operations manager of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, Robin Campbell, shows a rare white raven being nursed back to health. (Michael Briones photo)

Rare white raven, 2 orphaned bear cubs nursed back to health at B.C. wildlife rescue centre

Animal care technicians ‘hoping for the best’ for juvenile bird

Founder and operations manager of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, Robin Campbell, shows a rare white raven being nursed back to health. (Michael Briones photo)