Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
2040 Pacific Rim Hwy V0R 3A0 Ucluelet, BC, Canada

Today’s guest in our #DogsOnLeash series is Sebastian. Last summer, Sebastian led the Coastal Stewards team that patrolled the Long Beach Unit, providing education to visitors. He shared, we appreciate seeing you with your pets on leashes. It shows others that you understand that everyone has a right to peaceful enjoyment, and that might not include your dog approaching them to say hello. We’d love to see your dogs say hello! Post a photo of your furry friend’s hello fac...e on a leash of course! For more information on visiting #PacificRimNPR with your pet: http://ow.ly/YbTf50ELnc2 REMINDER All non-essential travel into and out of BC, and between regions of the province, is now prohibited until at least May 25, 2021. We look forward to welcoming you when it is safe to do so. Please visit COVID-19 and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: http://ow.ly/Jna950ELnc1 for information on what is open and closed.

Job Alert - Park Superintendent Does the idea of leading a team in a dynamic work environment, working with Indigenous partners and stakeholders in one of th...e most beautiful places in Canada appeal to you? If so, then you may be interested in an exciting and challenging position as the Park Superintendent for Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Closing date for applications is Sunday, May 30, 2021. Apply now http://ow.ly/ir8c50EN8oy

Did you know that there is a speed limit and limit to how much power the motor of a pedal assist bicycle-bike can generate to be permitted within the national park reserve? The motor of a pedal assist e-bike must not generate more than 500W, and the power assistance must stop when the speed reaches 32km/h. For Parks Canada‘s full definition on e-bikes, visit: parkscanada.gc.ca/ebikes... REMINDER All non-essential travel into and out of BC, and between regions of the province, is now prohibited until at least May 25, 2021. We look forward to welcoming you when it is safe to do so. Please visit COVID-19 and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: http://ow.ly/9fwI30rFoAA for information on what is open and closed.

#PacificRimNPR Species: Semipalmated Plover Plovers have short bills and hunt by sight, rather than by feel as longer-billed shorebirds like sandpipers do. They forage in short runs then a stop, during which they scan the sand in front. Even from a long distance across the beach you can recognize this behavior. The term "semipalmated" refers to its partly webbed feet, helpful for running along the soft shorelines. Read more about our research here: http://ow.ly/UL6U50EB92K... (Photo: S.Tyne/Parks Canada) REMINDER All non-essential travel into and out of BC, and between regions of the province, is now prohibited until at least May 25th, 2021. We look forward to welcoming you when it is safe to do so. Please visit COVID-19 and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: http://ow.ly/dvE650EB92J for information on what is open and closed.

Due to continuing health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19 Long Beach will remain closed north of Incinerator Rock until further notice. Please respect and support Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s efforts to protect their citizens. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our local communities safe.... REMINDER All non-essential travel into and out of BC, and between regions of the province, is now prohibited until at least May 25th, 2021. We look forward to welcoming you when it is safe to do so. Please visit COVID-19 and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: http://ow.ly/9fwI30rFoAA for information on what is open and closed.

When threatened, shorebirds fly in a tight flock that maneuvers together over the ocean. Whenever you see a flock of shorebirds abruptly take flight all at once, if they weren’t scared by people or an off-leash dog, scan the sky to see if a peregrine falcon is the cause of the sudden flight. Falcons are known to follow the #shorebird migration as a food source. Read more about our research here: http://ow.ly/2hLr50EB8wR (Photo: S.Tyne/Parks Canada)... REMINDER All non-essential travel into and out of BC, and between regions of the province, is now prohibited until at least May 25th, 2021. We look forward to welcoming you when it is safe to do so. Please visit COVID-19 and your visit to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: http://ow.ly/TSwU50EB8wQ for information on what is open and closed.

New BC Provincial Health Orders are asking that all non-essential travel to, from and within the province of British Columbia be avoided for the time being. The health and safety of our communities, our employees, our partners and our visitors is of the highest priority for Parks Canada. Stay close to home, limit your social interactions and practice physical distancing when required. For more information about the implemented restrictions, please visit: http://ow.ly/TLZ050C...swSB For more information about Covid-19 and #PacificRimNPR, please visit: http://ow.ly/gSOn50CswSD #Stayclosetohome #InThisTogether

How can you help protect the intertidal zone? isaak is a Nuu-chah-nulth principle for respect. Carry this principle with you as you move within the intertidal zone, as this ecosystem is home to many organisms that live within the sand, in the ocean and on the rocks. Remember that intertidal plants and animals are alive, awaiting ocean water with the tide’s return. Show them isaak as living beings.... #ExploreTheIntertidal For more information: http://ow.ly/24FW50CaGgb

#DYK that due to #COVID19, reservations for Parks Canada’s 2021 visitor season will open in April instead of January? This will allow you to make your reservations closer to your date of travel and with more information to plan your visit. No decisions have been made yet as to what may or may not be open for #PacificRimNPR’s 2021 visitor season. Parks Canada is working with First Nations and surrounding communities to reduce the possible risk of COVID-19 transmission to th...ese communities. Reservations for #PacificRimNPR including the #WestCoastTrail, #Keeha Beach, #BrokenGroupIslands, and Green Point Campground will open on April 7th, 2021. Please note, due to COVID-19 not all camping opportunities may be offered in 2021. Don’t forget to be #ParksSmart and mark your ! A complete list of launch dates for other sites located across the country is available online http://ow.ly/mxmi50CvaYI.

#DYK that it is still relatively rare to sight a Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in #PacificRimNPR? British Columbia lies well outside its normal range. Nevertheless, following the El Niño event of 1983, the species has become a more frequent visitor of our region from May to December, while still remaining absent or rare in most years. Warmer ocean water is believed to be partly responsible for the northward expansion of this large bird in recent years. #WildlifeWednesday #NatureFromAbove (Photo: Mike Wald)

Temporary Closure of Long Beach South washroom December 14 - 18, 2020. In order to complete regular maintenance, the Long Beach South washroom will be closed from December 14th to 18th, 2020. While this closure is in place, nearby Long Beach North washroom will remain open.

Green surf anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) and certain kinds of algae have a mutualistic relationship in the intertidal zone. The anemone hosts the tiny algae in their tissues, where the algae gains protection from the elements and other grazers. In return, the algae provides the anemones with nutrients. Talk about a great intertidal friendship! Photo: K. Bohlen / Parks Canada #ExploreTheIntertidal

In #PacificRimNPR, eagles can often be seen soaring through the skies year round. At this time of year these majestic birds can often be seen near a stream fishing for salmon and other prey species.

Here in the rainforest, I don’t want to just be a bystander to rain, passive and protected; I want to be part of the downpour, to be soaked, along with the dark hummus that squishes underfoot. I wish that I could stand like a shaggy cedar with rain seeping into my bark, that water could dissolve the barrier between us. I want to feel what the cedars feel and know what they know. Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

#WildlifeWednesday On Vancouver Island male deer drop their antlers annually, yet you hardly ever find antlers in the forests around #PacificRimNPR. In our environment rodents, such as mice and other small animals, quickly hoover these scraps. Antlers can be an important nutrient source at a time of year when food is scarce. This is why it is important to leave them where they were dropped. QUICK FACT: Antlers are shed and regrown every year, whereas horns are never shed and... grow through an animal’s life. While in #PacificRimNPR please take only pictures and leave only footprints. If you spot people taking antlers/bones etc. please report to 250-726-3604 or 1-877-852-3100 or to Parks Canada staff. (Photos taken with remote motion detection wildlife camera)

Welcome to the final week of #AskAScientist! In this series, we’ve learned how scientists identify individual killer whales , how hydrophones are used to stu...dy Southern Resident Killer Whale distribution, why eelgrass is important to the Southern Resident Killer Whale population, and how fish like Pacific Sand Lance and Chinook Salmon contribute to the marine food web . We’re finishing off this series with Krista Bohlen’s favourite memory from the field this summer. Krista is a Marine Technician working in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Q: What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen out in the field? A: The coolest moment I’ve experienced while in the field was witnessing J-56 Tofino breaching twice! It was a special moment not only because of how incredibly cute killer whale calves are, but also because J-56 is a light of hope for the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. Southern Resident Killer Whale pods are matriarchal in nature. Female killer whales, like Tofino, hold special significance for the pods - passing on years of teachings and social and local knowledge that form the foundation of their complex culture. Given the struggle to birth healthy killer whale calves in recent years, J-56 is a hopeful sight to see! : Tofino (J-56) breaches nearby Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Now that you’ve learned about some of the science and monitoring work happening for #SouthernResidentKillerWhales within Parks Canada, find out how you can help here http://ow.ly/Z8hE50BI4xY #SRKW #SouthernResidentKillerWhales #Orca

Look at all these sori! Sori are clusters of sporangia which are structures that produce and store spores for reproduction. This kaackuuxsmapt (a leather fern Polypodium scouleri) is producing many rounded sori on the underside of its leaves. Leather fern grow in the spruce fringe, an ecosystem that borders land and ocean. These ferns have waxy and leather leaves which protect them and help make them resilient to the harsh salt water spray and coastal winds of the area.... Photo: I. Cruickshank / Parks Canada To learn more: http://ow.ly/2fwl50CHoaS

Don’t miss out on the Surfrider Pacific Rim Short Film Festival November 20th 22nd, 2020 . For more information: https://www.pacificrim.surfrider.org/film-fest

Time is almost up to participate in the national consultation on Parks Canada! Share your views on the management of national parks , historic sites , and marine conservation areas by October 30 to help shape their future letstalkparkscanada.ca/

Extreme Wave Hazard and King Tide Warning issued for Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Dangerous Waves, Strong Currents and Possible Upper-shoreline Flooding December 13-15, 2020. The region will also be experiencing extreme high tides (King Tides) during mid-day. The National Park Reserve does not encourage participation in any type of aquatic activities during this time period. Shore users are advised to stay well back from the water’s edge especially along rocky shoreli...nes or islands and during high tide when logs may roll on the beach or float in the surf. For more information: http://ow.ly/OAkR50CIkqy #KnowBeforeYouGo and always be #CoastSmart

I love a natural look in pictures. Marilyn Monroe #MotivationMonday #NatureFromAbove

UPDATE! #PacificRimNPR is working hard to re-open sections of the Long Beach Unit after this week’s wind storm. Most of the unit is now open including Long Beach and Wickaninnish Beach however, some areas will remain closed until it is safe to re-open. Please respect all on-site signage closures are in place for your safety.

This week is #BatWeek (Oct. 24th-31st). #DYK that 16 species of bats occur in British Columbia, with more than half considered to be at risk? At least 8 species occur in #PacificRimNPR, although data is being collected every year to confirm the presence of more. Bats belong to their own group of mammals (or order) called Chiroptera, which means hand wing. While flying, they eat huge amounts of insects, sometimes more than their own weight per night. #NatureFromAbove To find out more about bats in #PacificRimNPR visit: http://ow.ly/FXjd50BXR5b (Photo: I. Harte)

#TriviaTuesday What is the name of this reddish fruit coming from a thorny shrub that displays single pink flowers in the early summer?

What’s that thing there? Is it part of the rock? No it is a marine snail called a limpet. In the #intertidal zone of #PacificRimNPR many different species of limpet can be found. Limpets have a roughly conical shape. The teeth of the limpet are one of the strongest materials in the world which allow them to hold on tight to rocks when the tide is out. They are working hard to stay where they are so avoid touching or stepping on them when you are exploring. Remember to be #Coa...stSmart and check the tides before your adventure! #ExploreTheIntertidal See more

While other plants and animals are slowing down for winter, some fungi species are just waking up! #PacificRimNPR is a great place to view these beautiful mushrooms, but remember foraging for mushrooms is not permitted within #PacificRimNPR other than by local First Nations. Take only pictures, and leave no trace!

#WildlifeWednesday Winter is coming to #PacRimNPR and there is less forage food available, especially for black bears. The salmon runs are almost over, time to hunker down, sleep late, and conserve energy until spring. But remember, although we won’t see as many bears out and about, wolves and cougars are ranging all year round. West coast carnivores come out in any weather. This cougar is out in the middle of the night during a snow storm! Report wildlife sightings in #Pac...ificRimNPR to 250-726-3604 or 1-877-852-3100 or to Parks Canada staff. More information on what to do if you encounter wildlife: http://ow.ly/HhTm50BSvMg (Photos taken with remote motion detection wildlife camera)

In this week’s edition of #AskAScientist, Jennifer Yakimishyn, a marine ecologist at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve talks about the importance of #ChinookSal...mon for Southern Resident Killer Whale populations. Q: Why is it so important to focus on salmon populations for Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery? A: Pacific salmon, such as Chinook and Chum, are the favourite food for Resident Killer Whales. Pacific salmon populations are doing poorly due to many factors, including loss of freshwater spawning and rearing habitats. The habitat of many salmon stream systems on the west coast of Vancouver Island were degraded due to past logging. Restoration of these stream habitats not only supports salmon and their young, but contributes to healthy coastal ecosystems including both terrestrial and marine habitats. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is home to important salmon-bearing streams and marine corridors for migrating salmon. Parks Canada is working on identifying these important habitats and working with partners to restore important salmon streams in the area. : In the photo taken by Jenn below, juvenile Chinook Salmon swim around at the Ucluelet Aquarium. Find out more about Southern Resident Killer Whale research and what you can do to help here https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/nature/recherche-research/erds-srkw #SRKW #SouthernResidentKillerWhales #Orca

This week is #WasteReductionWeek (Oct. 19-25th). Waste reduction is where it all starts! Taking action on this issue could considerably diminish the amount of land and ocean debris collected by Parks Canada staff throughout the #PacificRimNPR, and by visitors like you who lend a hand whenever you see it. We are grateful for your help! Truly, we are #InThisTogether in both our efforts to stay safe and to #KeepNatureNatural! (Photo: Mike Wald/Parks Canada)

National parks , historic sites and marine conservation areas help share the story of . Now you can help write the next chapter . Share your thoughts on key priorities with us by participating in the Minister’s Round Table until October 30 letstalkparkscanada.ca. #2020MRT Parks Canada

I don't like formal gardens. I like wild nature. It's just the wilderness instinct in me, I guess. Walt Disney #MotivationMonday #NatureFromAbove

#PacificRimNPR is home to marine mollusks called chitons. Chitons have a shell made up of eight plates that provide protection while also being flexible. The plates’ shape resembles that of a butterfly. Chitons have rows of zipper-like teeth which they use to scrape algae off rocks. Some people call chitons sea cradles. Enjoy with your eyes and avoid stepping on them when you explore the #intertidal zone - you will need to look carefully at low tide to see them. ... Remember to be #CoastSmart while you explore and #Knowbeforeyougo #ExploreTheIntertidal

#WildlifeWednesday In the coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest spawning salmon actually feed the forest, their decaying bodies import vast stores of marine derived nitrogen to the terrestrial ecosystem. Bears, wolves, eagles and other animals move salmon carcasses up into the bush to eat, which is where any leavings remain. Later, animal droppings spread the nutrients further afield. When salmon are plentiful bears selectively eat only the head, while the rest of the c...arcass is left behind to rot. FUN FACT: Decomposing salmon stimulate the spring maggot population which hatches into flies to feed songbirds. Our forests are not just components of an ecosystem fish, trees, bears but an interconnected web that links land and sea. If you see a bear, please respect its physical distance too! Give +100m of space. Report wildlife sightings in #PacificRimNPR to 250-726-3604 or 1-877-852-3100 or to Parks Canada staff. More information on what to do if you encounter wildlife: http://ow.ly/AmU550BOOk5 (Photos taken with remote motion detection wildlife camera)