Conservation

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

 

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

 

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

 

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)
Link Island Nature Reserve. (Carmen Smith photo)

Private island near Nanaimo worth $3.7 million donated for conservation

Betty Swift, who died in 2021, instructed that Link Island be donated to Islands Trust Conservancy

Link Island Nature Reserve. (Carmen Smith photo)
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)
Rosamund Moore, second from right, poses with family members Justine Keirn, Anika Keirn, and Lachlan Keirn along with Mayor Ron Toyota at the celebratory opening of the Dwight and Rosamund Moore Community Wetland. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)

Town of Creston restores reservoir, opens new community wetland

Dwight and Rosamund Moore Community Wetland will serve as public green space, educational site

Rosamund Moore, second from right, poses with family members Justine Keirn, Anika Keirn, and Lachlan Keirn along with Mayor Ron Toyota at the celebratory opening of the Dwight and Rosamund Moore Community Wetland. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)
Conservation officers seized five firearms during an arrest Thursday, Oct. 20 west of Williams Lake where three individuals were hunting at night on private property. (BC Conservation Officer Service photo)

Night hunting near Williams Lake leads to 3 arrests, seizure of 5 dead deer, guns and truck

The individuals were hunting with high powered lights

  • Oct 24, 2022
Conservation officers seized five firearms during an arrest Thursday, Oct. 20 west of Williams Lake where three individuals were hunting at night on private property. (BC Conservation Officer Service photo)
A Calgary man received a two-year ban from hunting in the province for using a B.C. resident licence to hunt. Photo Facebook/BCCOS

Calgary man receives ban, $2,875 fine for using B.C. resident licence to hunt

Incident took place in 2019 on Vancouver Island

A Calgary man received a two-year ban from hunting in the province for using a B.C. resident licence to hunt. Photo Facebook/BCCOS
BC Conservation Officer Service said five U.S. citizens fishing on the Dean River near Bella Coola were fined for using barbed hooks. (BC Conservation Officer Facebook photo)

Five U.S. citizens fined for fishing with barbed hooks near Bella Coola

BC Conservation officers caught them during a patrol of the Dean River

BC Conservation Officer Service said five U.S. citizens fishing on the Dean River near Bella Coola were fined for using barbed hooks. (BC Conservation Officer Facebook photo)
Black Press File photo

Child finds dead buck in yard; Okanagan man fined for not reporting shot and injured deer

The event happened in Feb. 2021, during the hunting offseason

Black Press File photo
Cow Moose Sign Project founder Dan Simmons is thrilled the provincial government is stopping the antlerless moose hunt in Region 7. (Angie Mindus file photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. group applauds province for protecting cow moose in Omineca region

Regulation changes will see calf and cow moose hunts left out of the Limited Entry Hunt in Region 7

Cow Moose Sign Project founder Dan Simmons is thrilled the provincial government is stopping the antlerless moose hunt in Region 7. (Angie Mindus file photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Peter Pauwels, a retired conservation officer, says the job offers many interesting and rewarding moments, but there are many challenges. “We have to do many unpleasant things in this job. The amount of animals I’ve had to kill is staggering. (Contrtibuted - Peter Pauwels)

We don’t enjoy ‘killing animals,’ says former B.C. conservation officer

Peter Pauwels discusses the challenges and rewards of 30 years on the job

Peter Pauwels, a retired conservation officer, says the job offers many interesting and rewarding moments, but there are many challenges. “We have to do many unpleasant things in this job. The amount of animals I’ve had to kill is staggering. (Contrtibuted - Peter Pauwels)
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)
The Haig Brown Fly Fishing Association’s new fishing map of the Cowichan River will help anglers know where to fish, and also support conservation and education efforts. Jennifer Blyth / West Coast Traveller photo

Victoria fly fishing club marks 45 years with new Cowichan River angling map

For 45 years, the Victoria-based Haig Brown Fly Fishing Association has supported…

The Haig Brown Fly Fishing Association’s new fishing map of the Cowichan River will help anglers know where to fish, and also support conservation and education efforts. Jennifer Blyth / West Coast Traveller photo
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