Wildlife

In this April 23, 2020, photo provided by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, a researcher holds a dead Asian giant hornet in Blaine, Wash. The world’s largest hornet, a 2-inch long killer with an appetite for honey bees, has been found in Washington state and entomologists are making plans to wipe it out. Dubbed the “Murder Hornet” by some, the Asian giant hornet has a sting that could be fatal to some humans. It is just now starting to emerge from hibernation. (Karla Salp/Washington State Department of Agriculture via AP)

‘Murder Hornets,’ with sting that can kill, land in Washington State

The hornet was sighted for the first time in the U.S. last December

In this April 23, 2020, photo provided by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, a researcher holds a dead Asian giant hornet in Blaine, Wash. The world’s largest hornet, a 2-inch long killer with an appetite for honey bees, has been found in Washington state and entomologists are making plans to wipe it out. Dubbed the “Murder Hornet” by some, the Asian giant hornet has a sting that could be fatal to some humans. It is just now starting to emerge from hibernation. (Karla Salp/Washington State Department of Agriculture via AP)
Wild Wise Sooke reminds the community to be bear aware, and to avoid having bear attractants in their yards. (Black Press Media file photo) Black Bear carrying garbage. (Black Press Media file photo)

Wild Wise Sooke urges bear awareness

Educational group kicks up social media presence in response to social distancing.

Wild Wise Sooke reminds the community to be bear aware, and to avoid having bear attractants in their yards. (Black Press Media file photo) Black Bear carrying garbage. (Black Press Media file photo)
A white-tailed fawn rests in a clump of grass. (Design Pics)

COVID-19 not leading to increased wildlife, you just have more time on your hands: biologist

People have had more time to actually notice the critters that usually turn up in the spring

A white-tailed fawn rests in a clump of grass. (Design Pics)
The latest cub at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, Crumpet, is fed milk via syringe. (NIWRA photo)

Crumpet the orphaned bear cub recovering at Vancouver Island wildlife centre

Baby bruin found weak and underweight in Qualicum Beach

The latest cub at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, Crumpet, is fed milk via syringe. (NIWRA photo)
The moat at the Kootenay Trout Hatchery near Cranbrook, where a group of pesky river otters were fishing for meals in the summer of 2019. (Courtesy of Owen Schoenberger)

Trout ‘doing quite well’ at Kootenay hatchery after otters, who ate 150 fish, relocated

River otters had been pillaging a moat outside the facility for months, gobbling up about 150 trout

The moat at the Kootenay Trout Hatchery near Cranbrook, where a group of pesky river otters were fishing for meals in the summer of 2019. (Courtesy of Owen Schoenberger)
B.C. conservation officers were called on Tuesday, Feb. 18 to remove five hog carcasses from a ditch in Coombs. (Black Press file photo)

Resident discovers five discarded hog heads in Vancouver Island ditch

WARNING: Graphic image may be upsetting to some readers

B.C. conservation officers were called on Tuesday, Feb. 18 to remove five hog carcasses from a ditch in Coombs. (Black Press file photo)
Tina Hein of the Raptor Rescue Society holds an eagle that was rescued after it ate poisoned meat on the weekend. The bird is one of several that were being released from care at Island Veterinary Hospital on Tuesday morning. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Ten poisoned eagles rushed to veterinary hospital in Nanaimo

Eagles stricken after eating flesh of euthanized animal at Nanaimo Regional Landfill

Tina Hein of the Raptor Rescue Society holds an eagle that was rescued after it ate poisoned meat on the weekend. The bird is one of several that were being released from care at Island Veterinary Hospital on Tuesday morning. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
This is bald eagle #57. She was found by good samaritans in Campbell River on Feb. 11 and brought to MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre. Caregivers say she is very weak and can’t stand or lift her head for very long. She tested positive for lead poisoning and is the rescue centre’s ninth eagle to have lead poisoning this year. Screen capture Gyl Andersen – MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre

Island wildlife rescue centre sees 9 poisoned birds since January

MARS trying to fundraise for ‘rigorous and expensive’ lead poisoning treatment

This is bald eagle #57. She was found by good samaritans in Campbell River on Feb. 11 and brought to MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre. Caregivers say she is very weak and can’t stand or lift her head for very long. She tested positive for lead poisoning and is the rescue centre’s ninth eagle to have lead poisoning this year. Screen capture Gyl Andersen – MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre
This yearling, now re-located up north, was spotted up a tree in Trail two weeks ago. This was one of many sightings called into BC Conservation the last week of January. (Submitted photo)

B.C. cub that woke early from hibernation taken to sanctuary

Yearling was taken to Northern Lights Wildlife Society in northern B.C.

This yearling, now re-located up north, was spotted up a tree in Trail two weeks ago. This was one of many sightings called into BC Conservation the last week of January. (Submitted photo)
Hibernating little brown bats showing signs of white nose syndrome. (Alan Hicks/New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)

Public asked to monitor winter bat activity as deadly disease spreads

White nose syndrome now detected in 13 bat species in North America

Hibernating little brown bats showing signs of white nose syndrome. (Alan Hicks/New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
Barn owls are regular visitors at community parks throughout Sooke. (Ina Winterburn photo)

PHOTOS: Winter Wildlife

A local photographer pictures bird populations over the winter

Barn owls are regular visitors at community parks throughout Sooke. (Ina Winterburn photo)
Deer found entangled in lights in Kimberly, B.C. - Image- BC Conservation.

Deer freed in Kimberley after antlers get tangled up in Christmas lights

Conservation officers found the animal in distress and safely tranquilized it

Deer found entangled in lights in Kimberly, B.C. - Image- BC Conservation.
Takaya the male wolf on Chatam Island. He has now been relocated to the wild west of Vancouver Island after he was captured by conservation officers in James Bay on Sunday. (Ian Cesarec Photo)

Letter: James Bay wolf a reminder wolves are shy of humans

Just a note that reporting on this wolf would’ve been a good…

  • Jan 28, 2020
Takaya the male wolf on Chatam Island. He has now been relocated to the wild west of Vancouver Island after he was captured by conservation officers in James Bay on Sunday. (Ian Cesarec Photo)
The yellow-rumped warbler tends to arrive on Vancouver Island in early March. (Black Press Media file)

Despite reports of decline, birds flocking to national parks in Canadian Rockies

Recent studies suggest overall bird population has slid by three billion since 1970

The yellow-rumped warbler tends to arrive on Vancouver Island in early March. (Black Press Media file)
A young bobcat took up residence in a Salmon Arm couple’s bird coop and had to be scared out. (Jim Hilland photo)

VIDEO: Bobcat infiltrates Shuswap couple’s coop, feasts on fowl

Police officers credited for attempting to assist with animal’s extraction

A young bobcat took up residence in a Salmon Arm couple’s bird coop and had to be scared out. (Jim Hilland photo)
A buck aggressively approached a person walking their dog in Saanich on Wednesday, Oct. 23, prompting the dog walker to call 911. (Black Press Media file photo)

Breeding season brings out the aggression in bucks

It’s mating season for deer on Vancouver Island and residents are advised to be wary

  • Oct 26, 2019
A buck aggressively approached a person walking their dog in Saanich on Wednesday, Oct. 23, prompting the dog walker to call 911. (Black Press Media file photo)
As ducklings can’t yet fly, they are vulnerable to cars when waddling towards water sources. (Peninsula News Review File)

Duck, duck, loose – how to help ducks stay safe on our roads

Why did the duck cross the road? To reach the nearest available water source, says SPCA

As ducklings can’t yet fly, they are vulnerable to cars when waddling towards water sources. (Peninsula News Review File)
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority will be dismantling its fake tree, after the pilot project failed to entice any eagles to come nest in the area (File submitted/ Western Stevedoring)

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority to fall fake eagle tree at Ogden Point

Last year a fake tree was installed to try to entice eagles to stay in the area, without much success

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority will be dismantling its fake tree, after the pilot project failed to entice any eagles to come nest in the area (File submitted/ Western Stevedoring)
Glyphosate herbicide is applied to a logged area after seedlings are replanted. (Doug Pitt/Natural Resources Canada)

B.C. forest ministry cutting back on use of herbicide glyphosate

Faster-growing seedlings, need for aspen to provide moose winter feed

Glyphosate herbicide is applied to a logged area after seedlings are replanted. (Doug Pitt/Natural Resources Canada)
Bears coming into communities attracted to improperly stored garbage or fruit remain the biggest source of wildlife conflicts in B.C. (B.C. Conservation Officer Service)

Bear conflicts keep B.C. Conservation Officers busy

Wildlife viewing business faces six charges for baiting bears

Bears coming into communities attracted to improperly stored garbage or fruit remain the biggest source of wildlife conflicts in B.C. (B.C. Conservation Officer Service)