Pacific Wild receives new autonomous hydrophones and recorders for the Great Bear Sea Hydrophone Network

January 16, 2019

Pacific Wild and GBEAR are extremely grateful and excited to receive a set of autonomous hydrophones (underwater microphones) and recorders from JASCO Applied Sciences, as well as excellent training in ocean acoustics from Tom Dakin at Ocean Networks Canada. We are also thankful for support from the marvellous acousticians at JASCO Applied Sciences Ltd. and the Juanes lab at the University of Victoria.

Our aim is to monitor ambient noise and cetacean activity and how they change over time so we can help to ensure these waters stay quiet enough for ocean life to carry on without being harmed by human-caused noise emissions and other threats. Stay tuned for updates on this new acoustic monitoring program as it takes shape in the waters of Heiltsuk territory!

Contact Us

Email: info@pacificwild.org

Phone: 250-380-0547

Main Office
1529 Amelia Street, Victoria, BC
Lək̓ʷəŋən Territory
V8W 2K1

Field Office
P.O. Box 26
Denny Island, BC
Haíɫzaqv Territory
V0T 1B0

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🌘 The winter solstice marks the longest night of the year, and many animals have adapted to thrive in this extended darkness. Great horned owls rely on their exceptional hearing and sharp night vision to locate prey under the cover of night.

🦉Great horned owls are remarkably equipped to survive harsh winters. Their dense, insulating feathers provide excellent protection against sub-zero temperatures. Unlike some birds, great horned owls don’t migrate, maintaining year-round territories where they nest early, often in late winter.

Their primary food sources— small mammals like mice, rabbits, and voles— remain accessible during winter, as the owls use their powerful talons and sharp beaks to capture prey from under snow or in sparse vegetation. Their resilience ensures they remain top predators, even in the coldest months.

🌲 Great horned owls have a wide habitat range across North America, however some owls, like endangered Northern spotted owls, are only found in the southwestern corner of British Columbia. This species relies on healthy old growth forests to survive, and currently there is only one solitary wild-born owl known to exist. Protecting intact ecosystems is key for biodiversity to exist. This holiday season, consider supporting habitat protection and restoration efforts in your local community.

🎥 and 📸 by @alxcrzt

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🌘 The winter solstice marks the longest night of the year, and many animals have adapted to thrive in this extended darkness. Great horned owls rely on their exceptional hearing and sharp night vision to locate prey under the cover of night.

🦉Great horned owls are remarkably equipped to survive harsh winters. Their dense, insulating feathers provide excellent protection against sub-zero temperatures. Unlike some birds, great horned owls don’t migrate, maintaining year-round territories where they nest early, often in late winter.

Their primary food sources— small mammals like mice, rabbits, and voles— remain accessible during winter, as the owls use their powerful talons and sharp beaks to capture prey from under snow or in sparse vegetation. Their resilience ensures they remain top predators, even in the coldest months.

🌲 Great horned owls have a wide habitat range across North America, however some owls, like endangered Northern spotted owls, are only found in the southwestern corner of British Columbia. This species relies on healthy old growth forests to survive, and currently there is only one solitary wild-born owl known to exist. Protecting intact ecosystems is key for biodiversity to exist. This holiday season, consider supporting habitat protection and restoration efforts in your local community.

🎥 and 📸 by @alxcrzt

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❗News❗ This week the B.C. government sent out their latest update on the Caribou Recovery Program that includes the wolf cull.
They state:
“Updated information on wolf populations and distribution is required to better inform our understanding of the current condition of caribou herds and inform caribou recovery planning.”

The last official government estimate of wolf populations in B.C. was published in 2014, the year before the wolf cull began. Without up-to-date and reliable data on wolves, the predator reduction program is shooting first and asking questions later, slaughtering wolves in the absence of a meaningful understanding of their current population dynamics.

Caribou desperately need meaningful habitat protection to survive extinction, and the caribou recovery program agrees stating: “It is imperative to recognize that to achieve long-term caribou population sustainability, habitat protection and habitat restoration measures must continue to be prioritized and implemented.”

And yet…
A 2021 study determined that logging in caribou habitat actually increased by over 250% in B.C. and Alberta since caribou were listed as endangered in 2003.

Hindering the movement of predators along roads and other linear features has been shown to be more than 85% effective in protecting caribou from predation by wolves, yet this government program chooses to fund killing wolves over the decommissioning of old logging roads.

This latest government update, which comes on the brink of the 10-year anniversary of the program says that habitat initiatives for southern mountain caribou is only ongoing in 3 herd ranges and this winter they are going to START the formal planning process for 5 additional herd ranges - 3 of which have been subject to wolf culling for years.

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❗News❗ This week the B.C. government sent out their latest update on the Caribou Recovery Program that includes the wolf cull.
They state:
“Updated information on wolf populations and distribution is required to better inform our understanding of the current condition of caribou herds and inform caribou recovery planning.”

The last official government estimate of wolf populations in B.C. was published in 2014, the year before the wolf cull began. Without up-to-date and reliable data on wolves, the predator reduction program is shooting first and asking questions later, slaughtering wolves in the absence of a meaningful understanding of their current population dynamics.

Caribou desperately need meaningful habitat protection to survive extinction, and the caribou recovery program agrees stating: “It is imperative to recognize that to achieve long-term caribou population sustainability, habitat protection and habitat restoration measures must continue to be prioritized and implemented.”

And yet…
A 2021 study determined that logging in caribou habitat actually increased by over 250% in B.C. and Alberta since caribou were listed as endangered in 2003.

Hindering the movement of predators along roads and other linear features has been shown to be more than 85% effective in protecting caribou from predation by wolves, yet this government program chooses to fund killing wolves over the decommissioning of old logging roads.

This latest government update, which comes on the brink of the 10-year anniversary of the program says that habitat initiatives for southern mountain caribou is only ongoing in 3 herd ranges and this winter they are going to START the formal planning process for 5 additional herd ranges - 3 of which have been subject to wolf culling for years.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Pacific Wild receives new autonomous hydrophones and recorders for the Great Bear Sea Hydrophone Network

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