“When millions of salmon have returned from their long migration back to their birth stream and have created the next generation of salmon their work is done and they die.”
2019 Salmon Wild – Special Edition by Nature Kids BC
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✨ Did you know most Anna’s hummingbirds stick around all winter on Vancouver Island, Canada even when food is scarce?
Unlike their larger, feisty cousins, the Rufous hummingbird, who migrate south, Anna’s tough it out with a fascinating trick: torpor.
Torpor is a short-term hibernation-like state that helps conserve energy. In torpor, they drop their body temp from 40°C to just 9°C and slow their breaths from 245 per minute to only 6 — sometimes even pausing for 5 minutes. This superpower slashes their energy use to 1/300th of what they burn in flight! Plus, they’re not just nectar lovers—they snack on insects and spiders too.
#HummingBird #PacificNorthWest #AmazingAdaptations #WildlifeConservation
📸 by @sychdi
Seven years ago, British Columbia took a monumental step to protect its wildlife: the ban on grizzly bear trophy hunting. Today, we celebrate 7 years of safety for these iconic animals—7 years where the sound of rifles has been replaced by the quiet of coexistence.
This ban marked the end of killing grizzlies for sport and signaled a new era of conservation. It`s a victory driven by the voices of Indigenous communities, conservationists, and the growing recognition that grizzly bears are worth far more alive, thriving in their natural habitats.
Through Indigenous stewardship and ecotourism, we’re forging a deeper connection with these animals, learning to respect and live alongside them, rather than against them. Here`s to 7 years of progress and many more to come. 🐻💚
#GrizzlyBearConservation #Coexistence #WildlifeProtection
Newly released FOI documents reveal the shocking details of the controversial wolf cull that’s been ongoing since 2015. The FOI documents include contractor comments and an in-depth look at the "Judas Wolf" program, a tactic in which wolves are fitted with radio collars and forced to betray their own packs by unknowingly leading contracted aerial marksmen to their families. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, over 44 wolf packs were eliminated from the provincial landscape using this disturbing method, contributing to a total of 2,192 wolves killed at a cost of over $11 million to taxpayers since the program began.
Why is the B.C. government killing wolves?
Ostensibly, wolves are shot to support the recovery of endangered caribou populations, however despite the increasing death toll of wolves, the province allows caribou hunting to continue in some areas. The B.C. government also fails to adequately address the real threats to caribou: industrial development, logging, mining, and climate change. Wolves—vital to ecosystem balance as a keystone species—are paying the ultimate price.
Ten years of killing is far too long! Use your voice for wolves, demand an end to the wolf cull. Support Pacific Wild’s work by donating at the link in our bio and send a copy of our pre-written letter to the government today!
#EndTheCull #SaveBCWolves #WildlifeConservation #DavidEby #TourismBC
Wolves have a unique connection to the Pacific coast! 🌊🐺
Did you know wolves on Canada’s West Coast are not just land creatures? Coastal wolves have adapted to life by the sea, hunting salmon and scavenging along shorelines. This unique behavior links them directly to marine ecosystems.
When wolves hunt deer, they help protect the delicate vegetation along salmon-bearing streams. This allows young fish to grow in healthier habitats and supports biodiversity from forest to ocean. Without wolves, these connections begin to unravel.
Hunting, culling, habitat loss, and human development are threatening wolves every day. Protecting them is about more than saving a single species—it’s about preserving the wild connections that sustain life on Canada’s coast.
Will you stand with wolves? Let’s ensure their howls echo for generations to come.
📸: cc @davehutchisonimages via wirestock
#CoastalWolves #WolfConservation #WildlifeProtection
📸 by @iantmcallister “Years ago I was fortunate to be granted access to this family of wolves that turned into years of observation and insight into the lives of these sea wolves.
The wolf in the center of this image was one of the female matriarchs of this family that I called the Fish Trap pack. The Fish Trap pack, was an amazing family of wolves that are serious salmon fishers. Some seasons they arrived on the salmon spawning grounds in August staying until November. I took this picture in the fall season over 20 years ago when the pack had five growing pups to look after.
One night I remember being woken to plaintive howling indicating something very wrong had happened, the next morning a high ranking female wolf, shown in the centre of the picture came limping out of the forest, her rear leg clearly broken with a compound fracture. The pack was clearly distraught. I could see the wound, probably from a strong kick of a deer, or perhaps a bear, I don’t think it was a bullet but it’s possible.
Either way, I thought that this wolf was not going to survive for long.
The next day as the pack began their ritual of moving upriver to fish for salmon they left TL (Three Legs) behind to look after the pups, at the end of the day, when the rest of her family appeared some brought salmon for her and others regurgitated food. After a few weeks of watching this amazing display of affection and support for a wounded pack member her leg healed enough that she could limp around on three legs. At the end of the salmon season the leg atrophied and would never be used again but she was quite healthy. I watched the pack enter the rainforest for the last time that year thinking I would not see TL again.
Incredibly, the following spring I caught up with the Fish Trap pack and lo and behold TL was still limping along on three legs, happy as ever. I can only assume that she was supported throughout the entire winter, unable to effectively hunt herself. Just one of many examples of the incredible social bonds that wolves are capable of.”
#savebcwolves #wolfconservation #familybonding #lastwildwolves
On this #internationalanimalrightsday we stand in solidarity with wolves. 🐺
In the western-most province of Canada, 44 wolf packs were eliminated in just 3 months at the start of 2024. These wolves were sniped from helicopters, as part of the B.C. taxpayer-funded wolf cull. In total, 248 wolves have died this way just this year.
Wolves are among the most intelligent, socially complex animals on the planet. They live in tight-knit family units, work together to hunt, protect one another, and raise their young. Their sophisticated communication and strong family bonds are a testament to their emotional and social depth.
When entire packs are wiped out, it’s not just the loss of individuals—it’s the loss of culture, knowledge, and survival strategies passed down through generations. Older wolves teach the young how to hunt, communicate, and navigate their world. Removing these packs is an irreparable loss for the wolf population as a whole.
The stated intention of this cull is to protect declining caribou populations, despite the B.C. government’s own admission that the real cause of caribou decline is habitat destruction—due to logging, mining, fracking, and other human disturbances in critical habitat areas.
Wolves do not deserve to be sacrificed for the mistakes of humanity. Let`s advocate for meaningful change and a future where both caribou and wolves can thrive in their natural habitats.
🛑 End the wolf cull, stop habitat destruction, save caribou.
Go to https://pacificwild.org/make-a-difference/take-action/ to send a letter and 📣 speak up for these packs, whose howls are now silent. 🐺
Correction:
In the western-most province of Canada, at least 44 wolf packs were eliminated between 2023 and 2024 during a 3 month window each year.
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