Endangered Species

A Little Brown Bat is shown in a handout photo. A disease that has been nearly wiping out bat populations in eastern Canada and the U.S. has made its first appearance in Alberta. White Nose Syndrome, a fungus that starves bats to death by interrupting their winter hibernation, was identified in several locations in the province last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Cory Olson, WCS Canada

Bat fungus that causes fatal White-Nose Syndrome makes first appearances in Alberta

‘It’s not a lot of bats that can survive this disease.’

 

Baby humpback whale playing just west of Portland Island in Juneau in 2021. (Credit: Kristin Stekoll)

Endangered wildlife committee keeps B.C’s humpback whales on the list

Population has grown, but risk remains

  • Dec 19, 2022

 

Montreal mayor Valerie Plante delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Big cities have a major role to play in protecting biodiversity, experts say

Increasing native plants and animals and decreasing contaminants, among actions cities can take

 

Conservation groups want the federal government to preserve fin whales’ threatened status and act on outstanding measures to protect them. (Photo by Jackie Hildering / Marine Education and Research Society)

At-risk fin whales are in hot water with protection downgrade, LNG, and climate change

Shipping traffic set to increase in 2025

  • Nov 14, 2022
Conservation groups want the federal government to preserve fin whales’ threatened status and act on outstanding measures to protect them. (Photo by Jackie Hildering / Marine Education and Research Society)
A response vessel with a vacuum truck on board is shown off San Juan Island, Washington, in this recent handout photo. The United States Coast Guard says commercial divers are assessing a sunken fishing boat that went down Saturday in waters on the U.S. side of Haro Strait and is leaking fuel not far from southern Vancouver Island. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - U.S. Coast Guard

Fear for B.C.’s endangered orcas after U.S. boat sinks with 10,000 litres of fuel

There are only 74 southern resident killer whales remaining

A response vessel with a vacuum truck on board is shown off San Juan Island, Washington, in this recent handout photo. The United States Coast Guard says commercial divers are assessing a sunken fishing boat that went down Saturday in waters on the U.S. side of Haro Strait and is leaking fuel not far from southern Vancouver Island. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - U.S. Coast Guard
Owls, salamanders and others at risk with habitat destruction expected near Bridal Falls with Trans Mountain pipeline construction. (Protect the Planet)

Environmental groups seek protection from habitat destruction at pipeline site near Chilliwack

TMX contractors ‘cleared area of migratory, nesting birds and rare amphibians’ groups claim

Owls, salamanders and others at risk with habitat destruction expected near Bridal Falls with Trans Mountain pipeline construction. (Protect the Planet)
A rare American badger with young kits is living on a lot in a Cariboo neighbourhood. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Endangered badger raising family of 3 in developing Cariboo neighbourhood

Rare sighting for the area delights residents as young begin to emerge from the den

A rare American badger with young kits is living on a lot in a Cariboo neighbourhood. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
A screenshot from a YouTube video shot by John Goodell appears to show a very young calf (second from left) swimming alongside members of the southern resident killer whale’s K-pod. (John Goodell/YouTube)

VIDEO: First calf in a decade spotted swimming with K-pod off Oregon coast

YouTube video shows young calf swimming alongside southern resident killer whales

A screenshot from a YouTube video shot by John Goodell appears to show a very young calf (second from left) swimming alongside members of the southern resident killer whale’s K-pod. (John Goodell/YouTube)
Kevin Gourlay uses radio telemetry to track marmots. Photo courtesy Kevin Gourlay.

Researchers find three new Vancouver Island Marmot colonies this summer

Two colonies found in Strathcona Park, where recovery has been a “struggle”

Kevin Gourlay uses radio telemetry to track marmots. Photo courtesy Kevin Gourlay.
Halfpipe with his mother Split Fluke in 2019. Photo courtesy Kaitlin Paquette.

Death of young humpback shows tragic impact of ship collisions, 2 experts say

Two-year-old ‘Halfpipe’ found dead July 8

Halfpipe with his mother Split Fluke in 2019. Photo courtesy Kaitlin Paquette.
The Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program welcomed a new chick in April 2021 after it was artificially incubated for 32 days while still in its egg, hand raised for a week and then returned to owl foster parents Sedin and Amore. Chick B is now settling in at the family nest, which the public can view live online. (Jasmine McCulligh/Special to Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Baby welcomed at Langley’s Northern Spotted Owl breeding site

Facility hatches adopt-a-chick fundraiser to help with expenses

The Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program welcomed a new chick in April 2021 after it was artificially incubated for 32 days while still in its egg, hand raised for a week and then returned to owl foster parents Sedin and Amore. Chick B is now settling in at the family nest, which the public can view live online. (Jasmine McCulligh/Special to Langley Advance Times)
Elgin Wynd resident Ian Tyzzer says encroaching development is threatening the home and breeding ground of an endangered pigeon species. (Alex Browne photo)

Endangered pigeon habitat threatened by Surrey development, residents fear

Elgin Wynd strata owners fear it’s too late to save trees where band-tailed pigeons roost

Elgin Wynd resident Ian Tyzzer says encroaching development is threatening the home and breeding ground of an endangered pigeon species. (Alex Browne photo)
This young bullfrog is already the size of an adult Northern Red-legged frog (10 cm). An adult female bullfrog carries 20,000 eggs and can weigh nearly one kilogram. (Fraser Valley Conservancy)

American bullfrogs have the potential to wreak havoc in B.C. watersheds

Fraser Valley Conservancy helping folks to ID native frogs around them and improve habitat

This young bullfrog is already the size of an adult Northern Red-legged frog (10 cm). An adult female bullfrog carries 20,000 eggs and can weigh nearly one kilogram. (Fraser Valley Conservancy)
Garden spider. (Nature Conservancy of Canada photo)

New study is first full list of species that only exist in Canada

Almost 40 per cent of them are critically imperilled or imperilled and eight are already extinct

Garden spider. (Nature Conservancy of Canada photo)