Conservation

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)

Cow Moose Sign Project founder applauds B.C.’s decision to protect cow moose in Omineca region

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

 

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

 

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

 

The Campbell River Estuary Conservation Area. (Photo/Nature Conservancy of Canada).

Federal goal to conserve 25% of land by 2025 achievable – with work: advocate

Protecting land requires time and money, says B.C. Vice President of conservation organization

The Campbell River Estuary Conservation Area. (Photo/Nature Conservancy of Canada).
The annual Sturgeon release was held Friday, June 3 at Riverside Park in Vanderhoof. Over 600 students participated in the event with 1000 Chinook Salmon fry released along with 63 Nechako White Sturgeon. Shown is a 2-year-old Sturgeon named SpongeBob photographed before being released into the Nechako. Story continued on page 5. (Photo - Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)

PHOTOS: Students release chinook salmon and Nechako sturgeon during annual event

600 students participated in the release

The annual Sturgeon release was held Friday, June 3 at Riverside Park in Vanderhoof. Over 600 students participated in the event with 1000 Chinook Salmon fry released along with 63 Nechako White Sturgeon. Shown is a 2-year-old Sturgeon named SpongeBob photographed before being released into the Nechako. Story continued on page 5. (Photo - Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)
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)
It is very important to secure garbage properly, because if a bear cannot access a food source easily it will lose interest, move on and will unlikely return a second time, said Jonathan Schultz, conservation officer for the north Omineca zone. (Black Press file photo)

Bears are out and the BC Conservation Service wants the public to be responsible

Securing attractants is necessary

  • May 27, 2022
It is very important to secure garbage properly, because if a bear cannot access a food source easily it will lose interest, move on and will unlikely return a second time, said Jonathan Schultz, conservation officer for the north Omineca zone. (Black Press file photo)
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)
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)
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
An upstream view of BC Hydro’s Strathcona Dam. The company is under fire from the BC Wildlife Federation, which says BC Hydro isn’t meeting its environmental compensation requirements. (BC Hydro photo)

BC Hydro falling short on environmental obligations, conservation group claims

BC Wildlife Federation calls for auditor general to examine electric company

An upstream view of BC Hydro’s Strathcona Dam. The company is under fire from the BC Wildlife Federation, which says BC Hydro isn’t meeting its environmental compensation requirements. (BC Hydro photo)
A new 30-metre wide opening in the Fraser River’s North Arm Jetty allows juvenile Chinook salmon to reach a vital estuary for the first time in more than 100 years. (Photo by Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Juvenile salmon gain access to crucial B.C. habitat for first time in 100 years

New opening in Fraser River jetty allows for slow transition from fresh to salt water

A new 30-metre wide opening in the Fraser River’s North Arm Jetty allows juvenile Chinook salmon to reach a vital estuary for the first time in more than 100 years. (Photo by Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation)
Dan Simmons shows off an award he received from the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. for his efforts to conserve cow moose. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Cow Moose Sign founder honoured for efforts to conserve B.C. moose population

Williams Lake’s Dan Simmons continues to push government to stop issuing all LEH tags for cow moose

Dan Simmons shows off an award he received from the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. for his efforts to conserve cow moose. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Cow Moose Sign Project founder Dan Simmons is still pressing the provincial government to stop the cow moose hunt. Currently the government issues about 400 LEH tags for cow moose in B.C. (Angie Mindus file photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Cow Moose Sign founder honoured for efforts to conserve B.C. moose population

Williams Lake’s Dan Simmons continues to push government to stop issuing all LEH tags for cow moose

Cow Moose Sign Project founder Dan Simmons is still pressing the provincial government to stop the cow moose hunt. Currently the government issues about 400 LEH tags for cow moose in B.C. (Angie Mindus file photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
(Photo - Conservation Officer Service - Facebook)

Charges possible for attempting to sell threatened turtle in Kelowna

The turtle was taken back to the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops

(Photo - Conservation Officer Service - Facebook)
Decoys like this juvenile grizzly bear are used in the wildlife attack training scenarios for the conservation officers. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Predator attack scenarios prepare B.C. conservation officers for real-life calls

Attacks ‘extremely rare’ but officers need to be prepared, says CO during training in Chilliwack

Decoys like this juvenile grizzly bear are used in the wildlife attack training scenarios for the conservation officers. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
(Canadian Press)

Interior Fraser steelhead face extinction, warn B.C. fishing, conservation groups

15 groups, including the BC Wildlife Federation, say species must be declared species at risk

(Canadian Press)
A deer that fell through ice in Westwood Lake got a ride to safety aboard Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s rescue boat on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

Deer rescued after falling through ice on Vancouver Island lake

Nanaimo Fire Rescue and B.C. Conservation Officer Service respond to incident Tuesday, Jan. 25

A deer that fell through ice in Westwood Lake got a ride to safety aboard Nanaimo Fire Rescue’s rescue boat on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
(Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)

Otter with a toothache, cougar in a pink collar top most ‘unique’ calls for BC COS in 2021

Conservation Officers handle 30,000 calls per year on average

(Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)
It has been a brutal year for bears in the Elk Valley, with dozens destroyed by Conservation Officers and more killed by traffic and trains. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

31 bears euthanized in the Elk Valley

Conservation Officers have been forced to destroy 31 bears in the Elk Valley so far

It has been a brutal year for bears in the Elk Valley, with dozens destroyed by Conservation Officers and more killed by traffic and trains. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)