Wildlife

What were at first believed to be two feral boars spotted on the greens at the Cowichan Golf Club on June 18 are likely domesticated pigs that escaped from a local farm. (Submitted photo)

Escaped pigs surprise B.C. golfers

Two sighted at Cowichan Golf Club

What were at first believed to be two feral boars spotted on the greens at the Cowichan Golf Club on June 18 are likely domesticated pigs that escaped from a local farm. (Submitted photo)
A sequence of images showing riders, bears, dogd and more riders using the same trail within minutes of each other near Fernie. (Images courtesy of Clayton Lamb)

They are among us: Trail cams show how close Fernie comes to meeting wildlife head-on

Images from popular trails around Fernie are being captured as part of a study into the effect of recreation on wildlife

A sequence of images showing riders, bears, dogd and more riders using the same trail within minutes of each other near Fernie. (Images courtesy of Clayton Lamb)
A baby red-tailed hawk, right, originally captured as live food for an eaglet, left, has become part of a family of eagles on Gabriola Island. The eagles are feeding and caring for it after the eaglet wouldn’t kill it when it was brought to the nest in early June. (Photo courtesy Sharron Palmer-Hunt)

From food to family member: Baby B.C. hawk goes from eagle bait to roommate

Red-tailed hawklet brought to the nest as food instead gets adopted by eagles near Nanaimo

A baby red-tailed hawk, right, originally captured as live food for an eaglet, left, has become part of a family of eagles on Gabriola Island. The eagles are feeding and caring for it after the eaglet wouldn’t kill it when it was brought to the nest in early June. (Photo courtesy Sharron Palmer-Hunt)
David Dudeck’s “star of the show,” the Indigo Bunting he spotted near the Trail airport last month. Photo: David Dudeck

How one bird brought a West Kootenay community together on a rainy day

If you have a recent photo to share with Times readers email it (large) to editor@trailtimes.ca

David Dudeck’s “star of the show,” the Indigo Bunting he spotted near the Trail airport last month. Photo: David Dudeck
Avian flu has been confirmed among some Canada geese at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

Avian flu confirmed in Canada geese at Abbotsford park

Wildlife centre is receiving almost-daily calls about ill or dead birds

Avian flu has been confirmed among some Canada geese at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
Sea lions were spotted trapped inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point salmon farm site in April. (Jeremy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action Photo)

Officials hunt for harm-free ways to combat voracious sea lions prowling B.C. fish farms

“DFO staff have witnessed reduced sea lion activity at these sites in recent weeks”

Sea lions were spotted trapped inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point salmon farm site in April. (Jeremy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action Photo)
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)
The BC Conservation Officer Service is asking people not to disturb fawns, even if they appear alone. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

‘Don’t be a fawn-napper’: BC Conservation reminds public to leave baby deer alone

Lonely-looking fawns likely aren’t actually abandoned, conservation service says

The BC Conservation Officer Service is asking people not to disturb fawns, even if they appear alone. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Bear viewing guide and expert Ellie Lamb is concerned B.C. conservation officers are euthanizing too many bears, but the conservation service says it’s always a last resort. (Submitted: Tracy Duncan)

BC Conservation needs oversight on bear euthanizations, expert argues

More than 600 bears killed in B.C. in 2021

Bear viewing guide and expert Ellie Lamb is concerned B.C. conservation officers are euthanizing too many bears, but the conservation service says it’s always a last resort. (Submitted: Tracy Duncan)
(Andre Mouton/Ducks Unlimited Canada)

Wetland habitat loss, climate change putting dragonflies at risk of extinction in B.C.

Out of 6,016 species of dragonflies and damselflies, 16 per cent are at risk of extinction

(Andre Mouton/Ducks Unlimited Canada)
An image commuter Zahra Ahmdz says she took at the Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain station on March 22, 2022 appears to show a pigeon dead inside a cage. (Credit: Zahra Ahmdz)

Dead pigeons in SkyTrain cages not neglect but caused by hawk killings: pest control company

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition over concerns arouund the dead birds

An image commuter Zahra Ahmdz says she took at the Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain station on March 22, 2022 appears to show a pigeon dead inside a cage. (Credit: Zahra Ahmdz)
Volunteers count bats. (Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project)

Take part in the annual Kootenay Bat Count

From Kootenay Community Bat Project Spring is here, with rain, flowers, insects,…

Volunteers count bats. (Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project)
The interior of Ucluelet resident Katharine Fleming’s van was demolished on Friday morning when a bear became trapped inside and desperately tried to break its way out. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Bear destroys Vancouver Island van after getting trapped inside

RCMP officer frees black bear, but not before it obliterates the vehicle’s interior

The interior of Ucluelet resident Katharine Fleming’s van was demolished on Friday morning when a bear became trapped inside and desperately tried to break its way out. (Andrew Bailey photo)
A western painted turtle pictured at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)

Creston volunteers band together to create safer conditions for nesting turtles

The western painted turtle faces many barriers to a healthy population

  • May 16, 2022
A western painted turtle pictured at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)
The BC Conservation Officer Service has recommended charges against a Lower Mainland man for feeding wildlife. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)

Lower Mainland resident allegedly fed bears and coyotes for months

B.C. conservation officers have recommended charges against them

The BC Conservation Officer Service has recommended charges against a Lower Mainland man for feeding wildlife. (Courtesy of the National Park Service)
Citizen scientists in the Gulf Islands are worried humpback whales are being stressed by too much time with whale watching vessels. (Black Press Media file photo)

Citizen science whale observers worry humpbacks being harassed

One mother whale and her calf followed for upwards of 5 hours a day recently, says volunteer group

Citizen scientists in the Gulf Islands are worried humpback whales are being stressed by too much time with whale watching vessels. (Black Press Media file photo)
One of Stanley Park’s first blue heron chicks of 2022 pokes its mohawked head out from its nest. (Courtesy of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation)

Live camera captures first Stanley Park blue heron chicks of 2022

Winter weather, eagle raids made for tough nesting season, says Vancouver parks board

One of Stanley Park’s first blue heron chicks of 2022 pokes its mohawked head out from its nest. (Courtesy of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation)
Two orphaned grizzly bear cubs run while playing at the Greater Vancouver Zoo on July 8, 2020. Records obtained by non-profit Fur-Bearers show 77 bears cubs and juveniles were euthanized in B.C. in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

77 young bears killed in 2021, sparking complaint from animal rights group

Group argues B.C. Conservation euthanized some bears when no clear threat to public existed

Two orphaned grizzly bear cubs run while playing at the Greater Vancouver Zoo on July 8, 2020. Records obtained by non-profit Fur-Bearers show 77 bears cubs and juveniles were euthanized in B.C. in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum), 2015, Balancing Rock Trail, found throughout the Kootenay Lake-Creston region from low wet montane zone meadows to high sub-alpine meadows, flowering late March to even September. Note the six petals, and the red and yellow coloured anthers. (Submitted)

Out There: Plant Taxonomy

Taking an interest in your Kootenay Lake surroundings can add purpose to one’s outdoor ventures

  • May 11, 2022
Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum), 2015, Balancing Rock Trail, found throughout the Kootenay Lake-Creston region from low wet montane zone meadows to high sub-alpine meadows, flowering late March to even September. Note the six petals, and the red and yellow coloured anthers. (Submitted)