Conservation

A grizzly bear that was relocated from Squamish in September 2020 was found dead in the Squamish River on Aug. 10, 2023, BC Conservation Officer Service says. It was illegally killed and believed to have been dragged to the river for disposal. (BCCOS)

Grizzly bear shot and killed, dragged into Squamish River

BC Conservation Officer Service says the bear was relocated from Squamish in 2020

 

A sow grizzly feeds on some chum salmon as her cub watches beside her in the Bella Coola Valley. (Michael Wigle file photo)

Strengthened Great Bear Rainforest co-management efforts introduced

Coastal First Nations, Nanwakolas Council, Ministry of Forests partners of the initiative

  • Jul 27, 2023

 

The Bella Coola Estuary is part of the Great Bear Rainforest. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Strengthened Great Bear Rainforest co-management efforts introduced

Coastal First Nations, Nanwakolas Council, Ministry of Forests partners of the initiative

 

A black bear looking at a photographer from a porch in Harrison Hot Springs. (Haslettphoto)

Tree planter airlifted to hospital after bear attack near Tumbler Ridge

Victim airlifted to hospital in Prince George

A black bear looking at a photographer from a porch in Harrison Hot Springs. (Haslettphoto)
Alaina Miller set up a memorial near Thetis Lake Regional Park for a mother bear euthanized by Conservation Officers Friday (June 23) over concerns it posed a public safety risk. A group of neighbours are now calling for changes in the community to prevent another incident like this. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

‘Absolutely devastating’: View Royal teen mourns after mother bear euthanized

Community mourning after bear put down to ‘ensure public safety’

Alaina Miller set up a memorial near Thetis Lake Regional Park for a mother bear euthanized by Conservation Officers Friday (June 23) over concerns it posed a public safety risk. A group of neighbours are now calling for changes in the community to prevent another incident like this. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Two marmots explore the outdoors on "Invitation" run at Mount Washington on June 28. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)

VIDEO: ‘Disgustingly cute’ marmots start new life on B.C. ski hill

Year-old pups join the wild on Vancouver Island after being born and raised in captivity

Two marmots explore the outdoors on "Invitation" run at Mount Washington on June 28. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)
Grasslands known as Bunchgrass Hills, south of Kamloops, B.C., are shown in a handout photo. More than 60 square kilometres of at-risk grassland in British Columbia’s southern Interior will be protected forever, as part of the newest conservation project in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nature Conservancy of Canada

Protection coming for large tract of threatened grassland south of Kamloops

Bunchgrass Hills protection secures vital habitat and safe pathways for dozens of species

Grasslands known as Bunchgrass Hills, south of Kamloops, B.C., are shown in a handout photo. More than 60 square kilometres of at-risk grassland in British Columbia’s southern Interior will be protected forever, as part of the newest conservation project in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nature Conservancy of Canada
A black bear looking at a photographer from a porch in Harrison Hot Springs. (Haslettphoto)

Prince George was B.C’s deadliest community for black bears last year

Provincially, 500 black bears were killed by conservation officers in 2022, a 14% decrease from 2021

A black bear looking at a photographer from a porch in Harrison Hot Springs. (Haslettphoto)
Western painted turtles get their name from their western distribution and their finely detailed red, yellow and green markings. (John G. Woods photo)

Man caught snatching endangered turtles from Kelowna pond

Conservation Officers caught the man and want to remind the public that wildlife must stay wild

Western painted turtles get their name from their western distribution and their finely detailed red, yellow and green markings. (John G. Woods photo)
Two Northern Spotted Owls have been found dead, bringing the critically endangered species’ wild population back down to one. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

Death of 2 Northern Spotted Owls brings population in B.C. wilderness down to 1

The owls deaths were discovered earlier this month says Spuzzum First Nation Chief James Hobart

Two Northern Spotted Owls have been found dead, bringing the critically endangered species’ wild population back down to one. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)
A northern spotted owl is shown at the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program (NSOBP) near Hope, B.C. in this undated handout photo. One of just four endangered spotted owls known to be in the wild in British Columbia is now recovering from an injury after being found along some train tracks, slowing the careful plans to revive the species, a breeding program co-ordinator said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, NSOBP *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Northern spotted owl found injured near B.C. train tracks 2 months after release

It’s believed the owl — named Sitist, which means night in the Spuzzum language — may have collided with a passing train

A northern spotted owl is shown at the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program (NSOBP) near Hope, B.C. in this undated handout photo. One of just four endangered spotted owls known to be in the wild in British Columbia is now recovering from an injury after being found along some train tracks, slowing the careful plans to revive the species, a breeding program co-ordinator said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, NSOBP *MANDATORY CREDIT*
The Incomappleux Valley (Paul Zizka)

‘We owe it to our children’: 75,000 hectares of old growth forest conserved east of Revelstoke

The Incomappleux Valley is home to the globally rare inland temperate rainforests

The Incomappleux Valley (Paul Zizka)
Caribou herds in the Shuswap and surrounding areas remain in low numbers but have been relatively undisturbed by humans in the past year. (Black Press file photo)

Caribou herds being left undisturbed in the Shuswap and surrounding areas

Frisby-Boulder and other herds remain small in number but healthy

Caribou herds in the Shuswap and surrounding areas remain in low numbers but have been relatively undisturbed by humans in the past year. (Black Press file photo)
Stuart Westie has been tracking his fitness and environmental impact each year since 2011, and his efforts add up. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. senior tracks his shrinking environmental impact for over a decade

Stuart Westie started monitoring physical activity for health, then pivoted to environmental reasons

Stuart Westie has been tracking his fitness and environmental impact each year since 2011, and his efforts add up. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
In 2022, the BC Conservation Officer Service completed its ninth consecutive boat safety patrol program. Twenty one patrols were conducted on six priority bodies of water in the North Okanagan and Shuswap. (BC Conservation Officer Service photo)

Many lake enthusiasts in North Okanagan, Shuswap break laws over summer

Conservation officers patrolling lakes and rivers in 2022 report 71% non-compliance

In 2022, the BC Conservation Officer Service completed its ninth consecutive boat safety patrol program. Twenty one patrols were conducted on six priority bodies of water in the North Okanagan and Shuswap. (BC Conservation Officer Service photo)
A peacock is seen in Surrey’s Sullivan Heights neighbourhood. In 2022, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said one of the wackier calls it received was about a peacock seeking shelter in someone’s home. (Credit: Amy Reid)

Peacock seeking shelter, ram seeking mate top wacky calls to B.C. Conservation in 2022

Conservation officers received over 30,000 calls last year, some more unique than others

A peacock is seen in Surrey’s Sullivan Heights neighbourhood. In 2022, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said one of the wackier calls it received was about a peacock seeking shelter in someone’s home. (Credit: Amy Reid)
Claudia Copley, an entomologist at the Royal BC Museum, on the hunt for spiders. Copley is one of three biologists asked to champion a less lovable endangered species by Canada’s National Observer. (Photo by Jennifer Heron)

B.C. biologists standing up for at-risk slugs and bugs

The slimy, creepy creatures are worth saving too, researchers say

  • Jan 3, 2023
Claudia Copley, an entomologist at the Royal BC Museum, on the hunt for spiders. Copley is one of three biologists asked to champion a less lovable endangered species by Canada’s National Observer. (Photo by Jennifer Heron)
A family of black bears cross a highway in Canada. (Liam Brenna/Submitted)

Wildlife overpasses not wide enough: University of B.C. study

UBC research indicates issues in wildlife overpasses

A family of black bears cross a highway in Canada. (Liam Brenna/Submitted)
Dr. Chris Shepherd, right, with his daughters Raven, left, and Robyn, at the Scout Island Nature Centre on Oct. 20, 2022. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C.-based researcher working to address global illegal wildlife trade

Dr. Chris Shepherd is based in Big Lake after decades in Malaysia and Indonesia

Dr. Chris Shepherd, right, with his daughters Raven, left, and Robyn, at the Scout Island Nature Centre on Oct. 20, 2022. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
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)