Nature

Wildlife biologist Joanna Siderius of the Kokanee Creek Nature Centre with one of her many trail cameras. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘It’s still a wonderful world’: Kokanee Creek trail cameras show the secret lives of animals

Biologist Joanne Siderius has produced more than 300 videos for the Kokanee Creek Nature Centre

 

Sterling’s setup where he captured the seal pup’s birth. (Courtesy of Derek Sterling)

VIDEO: Victoria volunteer captures ‘awesome’ elephant seal birth

Derek Sterling is living on Race Rocks to help maintain the equipment and manage the wildlife

 

Canada Violet (Viola canadensis) - One of a few flowers with names referring to Canada, observed in the Kootenay Lake-Creston Region. (Photo by Ed McMackin)

Out There: Canadian Wildflowers

By Ed McMackin, a biologist by training and a naturalist by nature…

 

Alex Lavoie was even able to feed cat food to a raven that flew alongside his Jeep on the Dempster Highway in Yukon. Youtube video screenshot

VIDEO: Raven flies alongside Quadra Island couple travelling frigid Yukon highway

23 minute video with Raven garners over 5,000 views on Youtube

Alex Lavoie was even able to feed cat food to a raven that flew alongside his Jeep on the Dempster Highway in Yukon. Youtube video screenshot
(Nature Conservancy of Canada handout photo)

OPINION: Conserving forest, grassland and wetland ecosystems in B.C. has global impact

This week and next governments, scientists and conservation experts are gathering in…

  • Dec 8, 2022
(Nature Conservancy of Canada handout photo)
The Alouette River Management Society encourages spectators to be respectful of salmon when viewing them. (ARMS/Special to The News)

Environmental group releases tips for salmon viewing this season

6.8 million sockeye salmon have returned on the Fraser River this year

The Alouette River Management Society encourages spectators to be respectful of salmon when viewing them. (ARMS/Special to The News)
A young female Humpback whale named ‘Spike’ was found dead off Malcolm Island. (Jared Towers photo)

Young female humpback whale ‘Spike’ found dead off Vancouver Island

Officials still investigating cause of whale’s death

A young female Humpback whale named ‘Spike’ was found dead off Malcolm Island. (Jared Towers photo)
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
A 2020 drone photo of the former Creston open reservoir. (Photo courtesy of Town of Creston)

Town of Creston to hold opening of restored wetlands project

The public is welcome to check out Dwight and Rosamond Moore Community Wetland on Oct. 18

A 2020 drone photo of the former Creston open reservoir. (Photo courtesy of Town of Creston)
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
Memories of July surprises last through the summer. (Photo by Ed McMackin)

Out There: The Memory of July Surprises

In this edition, Ed stumbles upon a rare flower he hasn’t seen since 1976

  • Aug 18, 2022
Memories of July surprises last through the summer. (Photo by Ed McMackin)
This photo provided by Daniela C. Roessler in August 2022 shows a jumping spider (E. arcuata) exhibiting leg curling during a REM sleep-like state. A study published on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, suggests that jumping spiders show signs of sleep cycles, similar to humans and some animals. (Daniela C. Roessler via AP)

Do spiders sleep? Study suggests they may snooze like humans

Biologist: ’It was just the most unusual thing I’ve ever seen’

This photo provided by Daniela C. Roessler in August 2022 shows a jumping spider (E. arcuata) exhibiting leg curling during a REM sleep-like state. A study published on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, suggests that jumping spiders show signs of sleep cycles, similar to humans and some animals. (Daniela C. Roessler via AP)
The Morkin property in Southern Alberta. (Brent Calver/Nature Conservancy of Canada)

Fill your pack with snacks, scientists need to know how neat B.C. nature is

The BioBlitz, through the iNaturalist app, runs from July 28-Aug. 1

The Morkin property in Southern Alberta. (Brent Calver/Nature Conservancy of Canada)
This long exposure image shows the eruption of volcano Sakurajima Sunday night, July 24, 2022, in the view from Tarumizu city, Japan’s southern prefecture of Kagoshima. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said a volcano on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu erupted Sunday night, spewing ash and volcanic rocks, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s Sakurajima volcano erupts, triggering evacuation

No immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns

This long exposure image shows the eruption of volcano Sakurajima Sunday night, July 24, 2022, in the view from Tarumizu city, Japan’s southern prefecture of Kagoshima. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said a volcano on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu erupted Sunday night, spewing ash and volcanic rocks, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns. (Kyodo News via AP)
Together, students planted 150 trees and shrubs. (Photo by Morgan Mitchinson)

Creston students help restore wetlands

A class from Canyon-Lister Elementary is learning all about the forest ecosystem

Together, students planted 150 trees and shrubs. (Photo by Morgan Mitchinson)
“Out There” is a column by Ed McMackin. (Submitted)

Out There: Bird homes and habits

Some bird species have very interesting nesting habits

  • Jun 1, 2022
“Out There” is a column by Ed McMackin. (Submitted)
Adrian Leslie, West Kootenay program manager for Nature Conservancy of Canada, poses in front of the new wetlands in the Frog Bear Conservation Corridor. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)

Nature Conservancy of Canada leads restoration project on Creston Valley farmland

The wetlands will provide habitat for endangered northern leopard frogs

Adrian Leslie, West Kootenay program manager for Nature Conservancy of Canada, poses in front of the new wetlands in the Frog Bear Conservation Corridor. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)
A bee searches for pollen on a flower during a sunny spring day in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, April 8, 2022. A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 says habitat loss from big agriculture and climate change are combining to threaten the world’s insects. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Climate change, big agriculture combine to threaten insects

Scientists have noticed dramatic drop in total bug numbers

A bee searches for pollen on a flower during a sunny spring day in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, April 8, 2022. A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 says habitat loss from big agriculture and climate change are combining to threaten the world’s insects. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Seed cones from left to right – 1) White Pine, native, 7.5.inches long. 2a) White Spruce, native. 2b) Blue Spruce introduced. 3) Norway Spruce, introduced, 6 inches long, and 4) Ponderosa Pine., native. (From Ed McMackin)

Out There: Tremendous Trees – Part 2

‘Native tree species grow where conditions of soil, moisture, and temperature are optimum’

  • Apr 19, 2022
Seed cones from left to right – 1) White Pine, native, 7.5.inches long. 2a) White Spruce, native. 2b) Blue Spruce introduced. 3) Norway Spruce, introduced, 6 inches long, and 4) Ponderosa Pine., native. (From Ed McMackin)
The goal to create a protected eagle reserve at the French Creek estuary will become a reality. (Michael Briones photo)

$5M dream to create B.C. eagle sanctuary poised to become reality

Campaign to purchase estuary land reaches fundraising goal

The goal to create a protected eagle reserve at the French Creek estuary will become a reality. (Michael Briones photo)