Wildlife

A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A Whistler woman pleaded guilty in 2021 to feeding and attracting black bears to her property. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)

$60K fine for B.C. woman who fed bears was too hefty, appeal court rules

Whistler resident Zuzana Stevikova instead ordered to pay $10,500

A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A Whistler woman pleaded guilty in 2021 to feeding and attracting black bears to her property. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)
FILE - Corn fields are completely dry in the Kochersberg near Strasbourg eastern France, Aug. 28, 2022. The conference known as COP15, which begins Tuesday, Dec. 6, hopes to set goals for the world for the next decade to help conserve the planet’s biodiversity and stem the loss of nature. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)

UN summit: Don’t repeat mistakes on nature, scientists warn

Governments ‘have not succeeded in bending the curve on biodiversity decline’: study

FILE - Corn fields are completely dry in the Kochersberg near Strasbourg eastern France, Aug. 28, 2022. The conference known as COP15, which begins Tuesday, Dec. 6, hopes to set goals for the world for the next decade to help conserve the planet’s biodiversity and stem the loss of nature. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
This 2009 photo provided by NOAA Fisheries shows a North Pacific right whale as it surfaces during the Priest Survey in the waters off Alaska. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brenda Rone-NOAA Fisheries via AP

Progress being made in fight to save North Atlantic right whale from extinction

Analysts say about 340 North Atlantic right whales survive as of last year

This 2009 photo provided by NOAA Fisheries shows a North Pacific right whale as it surfaces during the Priest Survey in the waters off Alaska. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brenda Rone-NOAA Fisheries via AP
A monarch butterfly is seen in the Insectarium in Montreal, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. A new report assessing the status of wild species in Canada says more than 2,200 plants, animals, fish and other wildlife found in Canada are at risk of dying out.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Thousands of plants, animals at risk of extinction in Canada: wild species report

135 species at one time found in Canada believed to be extinct, another 4,883 threatened

A monarch butterfly is seen in the Insectarium in Montreal, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. A new report assessing the status of wild species in Canada says more than 2,200 plants, animals, fish and other wildlife found in Canada are at risk of dying out.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Friday July 5, 2019. Farmers in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are facing “intense disease pressure,” with an avian flu outbreak in commercial farms that the agriculture minister says is concerning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. ‘doing everything’ it can to stop bird flu, minister says, as infections spread

Lana Popham says normally avian flu aligns with bird migration seasons, but not this year

B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Friday July 5, 2019. Farmers in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are facing “intense disease pressure,” with an avian flu outbreak in commercial farms that the agriculture minister says is concerning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A bison is shown at sunrise on Nov. 2022, on Antelope Island, Utah. This year, about 750 bison were pushed into corrals during the Bison roundup. The animals are rounded up each fall so they can receive health checkups and vaccinations and be affixed with a small external computer chip that stores health information. They are then released back on the island or sold at a public auction to keep the herd at a manageable level of about 500. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Bison’s relocation to Native lands revives a spiritual bond

Resurgence of Indigenous people seeking to reconnect with vanished plains way of life

A bison is shown at sunrise on Nov. 2022, on Antelope Island, Utah. This year, about 750 bison were pushed into corrals during the Bison roundup. The animals are rounded up each fall so they can receive health checkups and vaccinations and be affixed with a small external computer chip that stores health information. They are then released back on the island or sold at a public auction to keep the herd at a manageable level of about 500. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A wildlife advocate says that weather impacts bears’ behaviour because it affects their food source. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)

Bears need personal space as they prepare for winter, says B.C. wildlife advocate

Spring and summer weather affecting black bear hibernation schedule

A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A wildlife advocate says that weather impacts bears’ behaviour because it affects their food source. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)
From left to right: Conservation Assistant Heather Gates, Conservation Programs Assistant Tina Watters, and Director of Bat Conservation Cori Lausen pose with the newly installed BrandenBark poles near Duck Lake on Sept. 28. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)

Biologists work towards bat conservation in Creston Valley

Wildlife Conservation Society installed artificial roosts near Duck Lake, Summit Creek

From left to right: Conservation Assistant Heather Gates, Conservation Programs Assistant Tina Watters, and Director of Bat Conservation Cori Lausen pose with the newly installed BrandenBark poles near Duck Lake on Sept. 28. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)
Northern gannets soar along the cliffs of Bonaventure Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence off the coast of Quebec, Canada’s Gaspe Peninsula, Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. The small island is close to shore and home to over 100,000 gannets in the breeding season, making them the world’s second largest northern gannet colony. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

VIDEO: Climate reshapes life for tenacious gannets on Quebec isle

Warming and rising seas, extreme weather events taking toll on seabirds

Northern gannets soar along the cliffs of Bonaventure Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence off the coast of Quebec, Canada’s Gaspe Peninsula, Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. The small island is close to shore and home to over 100,000 gannets in the breeding season, making them the world’s second largest northern gannet colony. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
An experienced Vancouver diver and schoolteacher Andrea Humphreys described her recent, epic interaction with a giant octopus in the Campbell River area in an October 2022 handout photo. Humphreys said she has been diving for 12 years and this was the first time an octopus came over to her and gave her a hug. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Andrea Humphreys
An experienced Vancouver diver and schoolteacher Andrea Humphreys described her recent, epic interaction with a giant octopus in the Campbell River area in an October 2022 handout photo. Humphreys said she has been diving for 12 years and this was the first time an octopus came over to her and gave her a hug. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Andrea Humphreys
Jill Hayward photo

Bears that attacked two women in Squamish won’t be captured

Injuries minor, conservation officers say incident appears to have defensive in nature

Jill Hayward photo
Brian Eccles recorded bucks battling for mating supremacy in his Oak Bay yard. (Photo by Brian Eccles)

VIDEO: B.C. bucks lock antlers in battle for mating dominance

Steer clear of male deer during rutting season, now through December

Brian Eccles recorded bucks battling for mating supremacy in his Oak Bay yard. (Photo by Brian Eccles)
The new Kuskanook Bat Chalet. From left: Derick Todd (Malibu Construction), Dr. Cori Lausen (Wildlife Conservation Society Canada), Geromy Piva (Piva Mechanical Industrial Crane Services). (Submitted)

Kuskanook chalet sure to be popular among at-risk bats

By Cori Lausen When you hear about chalets, condos and AirBnB, you…

The new Kuskanook Bat Chalet. From left: Derick Todd (Malibu Construction), Dr. Cori Lausen (Wildlife Conservation Society Canada), Geromy Piva (Piva Mechanical Industrial Crane Services). (Submitted)
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)
This image released by Warner Bros. Discovery shows a great white shark at the water’s surface. The death of two great white sharks in Atlantic Canada within days is abnormal, say researchers. They’re the ocean’s apex predators, but what caused the deaths is a mystery to researchers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP- Warner Bros. Discovery via AP

Deaths of two great whites off Maritimes within weeks ‘highly unusual’: researcher

Great white shark is endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act

This image released by Warner Bros. Discovery shows a great white shark at the water’s surface. The death of two great white sharks in Atlantic Canada within days is abnormal, say researchers. They’re the ocean’s apex predators, but what caused the deaths is a mystery to researchers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP- Warner Bros. Discovery via AP
The Marine Detective Jackie Hildering wades into the water next to the humpback. (Emily Cowie/MERS photo)

‘Absolutely gutting’: Mourning the death of Spike the humpback whale

Observers suspect whale may have died from blunt force trauma after being hit by a boat

The Marine Detective Jackie Hildering wades into the water next to the humpback. (Emily Cowie/MERS photo)
Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)

Wild B.C. population of critically endangered spotted owl jumps from 1 to 4

Conservation made possible due to partnership between Spuzzum First Nation and provincial government

Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result fo a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation. (BC Gov News)
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
It’s important to glean fruit trees to prevent human-wildlife conflict. (Pixabay)

WildSafe BC: Fruit gleaning as a way to reduce human-wildlife conflict

Ripe fruit trees are a wildlife attractant that can bring bears to your backyard

It’s important to glean fruit trees to prevent human-wildlife conflict. (Pixabay)
Bear 747 in Katmai National Park in Alaska. (Screenshot via Explore.org)

747 reigns as Alaska park’s Fat Bear Week champion yet again

The large bear is preparing to hit snooze for winter at Katmai National Park

Bear 747 in Katmai National Park in Alaska. (Screenshot via Explore.org)
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