Conservation

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

 

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

 

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

 

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)
Armstrong incumbent mayor Chris Pieper (left) receives congratulations and some heckling from the crowd after being awarded the Make Water Work Champion title for the fifth time since 2015 from Sigrie Kendrick, executive director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association. (Contributed)

Armstrong crowned water champion for fifth time

City wins OBWB’s Make Water Work campaign; fifth victory since 2015

Armstrong incumbent mayor Chris Pieper (left) receives congratulations and some heckling from the crowd after being awarded the Make Water Work Champion title for the fifth time since 2015 from Sigrie Kendrick, executive director of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association. (Contributed)
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
The American Badger is one of many species that calls the rare grassland ecosystem of the White Lake Basin home. The protected land in the basin is expanding with another purchase by the Nature Trust of BC. (Bennett Whitnell - Nature Trust of BC)

Nature Trust of BC expands White Lake protection

The area now covers 8,287 hectares of protected land

The American Badger is one of many species that calls the rare grassland ecosystem of the White Lake Basin home. The protected land in the basin is expanding with another purchase by the Nature Trust of BC. (Bennett Whitnell - Nature Trust of BC)
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)
New video from Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society educates on the dangers of invasive mussels like the Zebra mussel. (Creative Commons photo)

Okanagan invasive species video builds mussel awareness

New Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society video warns of invasive mussels

New video from Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society educates on the dangers of invasive mussels like the Zebra mussel. (Creative Commons photo)
Invasive species threaten wildlife, including the Painted Turtle. (CSISS)

The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program funds invasive species research

The program is funding 40 fish and wildlife projects across the region

Invasive species threaten wildlife, including the Painted Turtle. (CSISS)
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 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).
When burrowing owls are born they weigh seven grams and within six weeks they can fly. (Burrowing Owl Conservation Society Facebook)

Hoot, hoot! Burrowing owl babies born at Okanagan breeding centre

Burrowing owls are endangered species in Canada

When burrowing owls are born they weigh seven grams and within six weeks they can fly. (Burrowing Owl Conservation Society Facebook)
The Nature Trust of BC is looking to expand the protected area around the Keremeos Columns Provincial Park. (Nature Trust of B.C.)

Nature Trust aiming to expand in Keremeos and White Lake

Two purchases have been subject to recent fundraising

The Nature Trust of BC is looking to expand the protected area around the Keremeos Columns Provincial Park. (Nature Trust of B.C.)
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)
Two Vernon hunters were penalized with a combined $13,000 in fines after poaching three moose in the Kelowna area in November 2019. (COS photo)

Pair of Vernon hunters fined $13K for poaching 3 moose in Kelowna area

The men did not have LEH authorization and left two of the moose behind

Two Vernon hunters were penalized with a combined $13,000 in fines after poaching three moose in the Kelowna area in November 2019. (COS photo)