WildSafeBC Pacific Rim

Fall is Here! It has arrived in dramatic fashion with the arrival of an atmospheric river delivering days of heavy rain, winds and even some thunder and lightning. These are cues for local bears as they enter the season of hyperphagia. From WildSafeBC.com "Bears go through a phase called hyperphagia (extreme eating) in the fall."... How well bears fatten up at this time of year will affect their ability to survive the winter. This drive to put on weight means bears can be tempted to take advantage of other food sources in our communities. There was a recent report of bear into someone's compost in Tofino. If you still have fruit on your trees this is the time to be sure to harvest all fruit as soon as possible. Check to ensure you have a WildSafe Yard. There has been an excellent crop of all types of berries this year. Help keep our bears wild and foraging naturally and to keep our communities safe. https://wildsafebc.com/learn/wildsafe-yard/

By observing how wildlife behaves we can learn how to stay safe ourselves when out in nature. #WildWednesday

This week's #SaturdaySpotlight we'd like to recognize a couple of our WildSafe Rangers. These two young boys have picked up garbage that a bear had scattered around Kimberley. Thank you both for your hard work in showing how we can all do our part to help keep wildlife wild.

The yellow pine chipmunk is one of four species of chipmunks found in BC and, as this week's #WildWednesday will show you, is a lot of fun to watch.

BC has an amazing diversity of wildlife. Help us celebrate BC Goes Wild by sharing some of your amazing pictures. All types of animals are welcome! This include...s mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and more...Only 9 days left to participate in our Photo Contest. #keepwildlifewild Learn more at: https://wildsafebc.com/get-involved/2020-photo-contest/ See more

Today's #SaturdaySpotlight goes to Mary Anne Court and the residents and staff of Victoria House, Princeton. They are now better securing their wildlife attract...ants after building a garbage storage shed. Keeping garbage secure and inaccessible to bears and other wildlife is a key part of reducing human-wildlife conflict. Thank you for keeping our wildlife wild and community safe! See more

An improperly positioned trail camera had our images shooting just above where we wanted the camera - but we managed to get a lot of other incidental animals co...ming by to check out the den. Remember that rattlesnakes only bite defensively and as long as you don't startle them, or get too close, they will leave you alone. #WildWednesday See more

This week’s #SaturdaySpotlight highlights the efforts by Lindsay and Jeff in Invermere to reduce conflicts with bears, deer and other wildlife. Using a combinat...ion of physical and electric fencing, they are able to protect their investment and hard work while avoiding attracting wildlife to their garden and bee hives. Food sustainability goes hand in hand with reducing wildlife conflicts. Thank you for helping to keep wildlife wild and your community safe. See more

The 2020 BC Goes Wild Scavenger Hunt - a new innovation for this time of Covid-19. Get out and enjoy the outdoors and be entertained and learn. Each stop of the Hunt has a poster with QR codes. Using your smartphone camera just focus on the code. A link will pop up. Clicking the link will launch a locally created video. Each stop has a different theme and profiles the great work of a local organization whose work helps celebrate wildlife and the amazing west coast.

Here are the Scavenger Hunt maps for Ucluelet and Tofino that you will need to participate. The next post will explain how the Scavenger Hunt works.

More details for this weekend of BC Goes Wild activities. Watch for next post which will show the scavenger hunt maps for Ucluelet and Tofino.

Hello everyone! Mark your calendar because next weekend, it is time for BC Goes Wild! Come and chat with us and learn more about coexisting with the local wildlife at booths in Ucluelet and Tofino. We will also have a virtual interpretive walk and a scavenger hunt around the Pacific Rim region where you will be able to learn more about our wildlife and about all the local organizations that are promoting initiatives to live with wildlife. Come join us for a fun time for the whole family and you could also win some great prizes! More details and great activities to be revealed soon!

For this week's #WildWednesday, we thought it would be interesting to share the fate of two of our trail cameras that we had out for a couple of weeks in the in...terior of the province. Both cameras had a visit from an inquisitive bear that repositioned the cameras - one with good results, the other with not so stellar results! See more

The WildSafeBC Program relies on volunteers to help us successfully deliver valuable education to residents all over the province. We were lucky to have Gerad H...ales dedicate his time at the Kamloops Farmers’ Market, spreading the word on how we can coexist with wildlife. Thank you Gerad and to all the other past and present WildSafeBC volunteers! #SaturdaySpotlight See more

Did you know that deer and moose don't have horns? They have antlers. Animals like bighorn sheep, mountain goats and antelope all have horns and this week's #WildWednesday video lets you see some of the differences.

Wildlife Update and Away Notice: September 1st, 2020 Hi All. I will be away from Sept. 1st - 7th and back at work on the 8th. Thank you for following, liking and sharing the WildSafeBC Pacific Rim Program. ... See the 2 most recent Saturday Spotlights that highlight collaborations in our region. As always in regards to wildlife in conflict or the sighting of a bear, cougar or wolf in a community, please call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877- 952-7277. If you message me regarding the WildSafeBC Program, I will respond to your email within two business days on my return. You can also contact provincial WildSafeBC team. Please contact the Provincial Coordinator at [email protected]. All the best, Bob Hansen Wildlife Update: August 30th - September 1st, 2020. Wolf - dog encounter Hitacu. Dog uninjured - no other details Cougar sighting - Willowbrae area - no other details

This #SaturdaySpotlight shines a light on another successful collaboration between WildSafeBC and other local partners to effectively prevent wildlife conflicts... in local communities. Camping is a popular activity in the Pacific Rim but it is also home to bears and other wildlife. Food caches are an excellent strategy to keep food secure and campsites safe but a motivated bear can potentially breach a wooden structure. Jonathan Cross, CEO of the Ucluelet First Nation Group of Companies and Manager of Wya Campground, wanted to ensure that the campground’s three food cache buildings did not lead to food-conditioning bears. Installing electric fencing is a safe and effective way to deter bears and avoid conflicts. Thanks to generous funding from the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot and Yuuuiath Government - Ucluelet First Nation, electric fencing materials were purchased and installed. Technical support was provided by Jeff Marley from Margo Supplies and facilitated by local WildSafeBC Pacific Rim coordinator Bob Hansen and Wildsafebc Hitacu-Macoah coordinator Marianne Paquette. Campground staff Lyndal and Mitchell Hayward provided essential help for the installation with tools, brushing and labour. It was a great opportunity to gain firsthand experience in electric fencing construction and learn about how to maintain the systems. Lyndal and Mitchell will be providing education to the campers on how the electric fencing helps keep bears wild and the campers safe. Educational signage is currently being developed in partnership with WildSafeBC and the Yuuuiat Government.

August 26th, 2020 Update: Wolves and New Education Tool for Visitors There has been an increase in wolf observations in the past week and just the last few days. Here's an overview: Ucluelet - reports of howling and 2 observations of a single wolf ... Tofino - reports of howling and 3 observations of a single wolf PRNPR - observations of of a single wolf crossing the highway Port Albion - observation of 3 wolves crossing road Attached is a new handout designed to provide education for visitors, for new residents and for staff new to the area. If you have an information binder in a vacation rental, B&B or have staff housing please include this handout. There is information on properly securing garbage/recycling and pet food. Also safety information for people and pets. If you'd like a digital link to the .pdf please get a hold of me. This has been identified as a need by VR / B&B operators and those businesses that have staff housing. Please share widely. Thanks for helping to "Keep Wildlife Wild and Our Communities Safe"! Report bear, cougar and wolf activity in communities to the 24/7 RAPP line at 1 (877) 952-7277

None of us want to stress out our wildlife subjects while we are taking photos of them. In this week's #WildWednesday, we provide some examples of how to tell if an animal is stressed or not when you are watching it.

Update: August 13-24th, 2020 - Bears, WARP and Garbage This is an even longer than usual post for a particularly challenging moment in our season. This post, as are all the posts, are to provide education and to highlight issues and actions to work towards resolving those issues....Continue reading

This #SaturdaySpotlight shines a light on collaborations and how WildSafeBC facilitates community solutions to effectively prevent wildlife conflicts in local c...ommunities. While community gardens can be a great source of local food, they can also attract bears. The 8 foot high fence at the Ucluelet First Nation Community Garden was no match for bears that managed to scale the fence. Thanks to generous funding from the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot and Yuuuiath Government - Ucluelet First Nation, electric fencing materials were purchased and installed. Technical support was provided by Jeff Marley from Margo Supplies and facilitated by local WildSafeBC Pacific Rim coordinator Bob Hansen and Wildsafebc Hitacu-Macoah coordinator Marianne Paquette. Ucluelet First Nation’s Asset Management Team (Spencer Touchie, Jeremy Valentine and Henry Williams) provided essential clearing of the garden fence line to allow the installation work to proceed. The team will provide regular weed whacking to ensure the electric fencing is not compromised by vegetation and maintains a high charge Marianne and Bob will continue to provide on-going education on the effectiveness and safety of electric fencing. Educational signage is currently being developed in partnership with WildSafeBC and the Yuuuiat Government.

Nocturnal, diurnal, crepuscular, and cathemeral. What are these terms in reference to? Watch this week's #WildWednesday to find out!

This week's #SaturdaySpotlight feature, the Sparwood Bike Club, has shown ongoing support for the WildSafeBC Elk Valley Program and is committed to help reduce ...human/wildlife conflict in recreational areas. As the sport of mountain biking continues to grow in the Elk Valley, so does the potential for human/wildlife encounters. Jen King from the Sparwood Bike Club has enabled WildSafeBC to educate members of the club and the community of Sparwood by helping produce a short Mountain Biking and Bear Safety video and co-hosting very well attended Wildlife Awareness and Safe Use of Bear Spray events. Awesome work Sparwood!