The Banks Island Mine Disaster - Pacific Wild

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The Banks Island Mine Disaster

In 2015, the Gitxaala Nation criticized the regulatory regime that failed to require an environmental assessment for a gold mine that fell slightly short of the assessment threshold. The unexamined mine went on to seriously pollute Banks Island water bodies with toxic metals. This was followed by a stop work order, charges against the mine, and the company filing for bankruptcy.

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Commercial whaling began in British Columbia in 1905, which resulted in the decimation of humpback whales in the north Pacific. To save the species from extinction, the International Whaling Commission placed a ban on hunting humpbacks in the 1960s, adhered to by most countries. The last whaling station in B.C. closed in 1967, after the near extirpation of humpbacks in the region. Since then, humpback whale populations have begun to recover and have been recolonizing their historic range. Today, humpback whales are listed as a species of “Special Concern” in Canada by the Species at Risk Act; however, in the United States several populations are listed as Threatened or Endangered.⁠
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Last week, our staff spent time in the field on the central coast and were fortunate to encounter a humpback whale on their travels. The individual, BCX1665, has been known to researchers since 2015 and has been documented on the central coast in 2016, 2019, and now 2023 according to our encounter and sightings reports logged on happywhale.com. BCX1665 is identifiable by the extensive rake mark scars (inflicted by mammal eating killer whales) along the underside of their tail fluke. It is unknown whether BCX1665 is male or female but it is known that this individual travels to Mexico for the breeding season and is a member of a threatened population under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. BCX1665 was observed by our staff engaging in solo bubble-net feeding, a spectacular surface feeding behaviour in which whales use bubbles blown from their blowholes to trap fish in tight schools close to the surface.⁠
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Though whaling of humpbacks has ceased in Canada, these whales still face a variety of threats from humans such as ship strikes, entanglements in fishing gear and noise pollution. Remaining informed on safe boating practices, and giving whales a wide berth (at least 100 meters) can help minimize danger and disturbance. Thank you to Jackie at @mersociety for the in-field assistance with identification!⁠
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Please note: the first image was taken by @iantmcallister and is NOT of BCX1665, swipe to see the identification shot of BCX1665 our team captured! #humpbackwhales

Did you know that healthy rivers are crucial for the wellbeing and survival of salmon, and many other species? Today is world rivers day, an opportunity to celebrate the world’s rivers and their many values to ecosystems and communities. ⁠
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According to worldriversday.com, world rivers day was established in 2005 by river advocate Mark Angelo, to “celebrate the world’s waterways” and “highlight the many values of our rivers,” while “striving to increase public awareness, and encouraging the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world.” ⁠
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In recent years, climate change has been having increasingly negative effects on river ecosystems as water temperatures have been rising and oxygen levels are decreasing. A recent study by author, et al, found that in 796 rivers studied, 87% have been persistently warming, and deoxygenation occurred in 70%. This can have dire consequences on the biodiversity a river is able to sustain.⁠
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Learn more about world rivers day and how you can get involved in restoration or celebration of rivers at worldriversday.com⁠
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Photo by: @iantmcallister⁠
#worldriversday #ecosystemhealth #climateeffectsrivers #rivers

Today is the autumn equinox, a moment in time where night and day are exactly the same length, signifying the beginning of fall. As ecosystems change in anticipation for the winter months, so too do the species that live within them. ⁠
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Salmon begin their long journeys from the ocean to their spawning grounds. Bears consume as much food as they can in preparation for hibernation, a process called hyperphagia. Wolves will also ingest greater amounts of food to store extra body fat for the winter months. Gray and humpback whales prepare to migrate south to warmer waters for their breeding season. Pacific herring migrate from offshore areas to inshore waters where they will remain, before spawning in the late winter or early spring. ⁠
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As seasons change and cycle, all flora and fauna have adapted methods to survive the more severe winter conditions, and most use this autumn period to the fullest. How does your lifestyle change during the fall? ⁠
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Photo credit: @iantmcallister⁠
#fallequinox #autumnanimals #conservation⁠

We are hosting another Grizzly Bear Stewardship Letter Writing Party! ⁠
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If you couldn’t attend our last letter writing event but still want to write to the provincial government with your thoughts on the proposed Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework, or you just want to learn more about the subject, now’s your chance!⁠
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Let us help you help bears!⁠
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When: Wednesday, October 4th - 7pm-8:30pm PST⁠
Where: Attend in person at the Pacific Wild office in downtown Victoria, or virtually on Zoom!⁠
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In person attendants will be provided with all the necessary stationary and light refreshments. We will take care of mailing your letter for you! We also will provide talking points as needed. ⁠
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Please RSVP as soon as possible at the link in our bio! We can’t wait to see you there!⁠
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Photo credit: @iantmcallister⁠
#savebcbears #grizzlybears #savebcgrizzlies #grizzlystewardshipframework⁠

Wildfires have not been the only devastating effect of climate change that has impacted British Columbia ecosystems this year. The Cowichan watershed, an ecologically important area for Chinook salmon, continues to face extreme drought, causing dangerously low flow rates in the Cowichan river. To combat this low flow rate, pumps may be required to move water out of the Cowichan lake (which is already experiencing low water levels), into the river. This prolonged drought has also contributed to the first significant fish kill in the Cowichan river in mid-July, where hundreds of salmon and trout were discovered dead due to environmental stress induced by climate change. ⁠
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A weir was built in 1957 to control the flow of water through the Cowichan river, but over the last 20 years with the increase in droughts, the weir has failed 15 times to deliver the flow of water required to sustain the ecology of the river (7 cubic meters per second). In preparation for the heat predicted for 2023, the flow was reduced in June to just 4.5 cubic meters per second, the minimum flow rate necessary to sustain river life. Despite this precaution, the drought has lasted long enough that pumping water from Cowichan lake may be the only option left. ⁠
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Tom Rutherford, a fisheries biologist and a member of the Cowichan Watershed Board dives further into the risks of pumping water from Cowichan lake, and the consequences of climate change on the Cowichan river in his interview on cbc news radio's On The Island with Gregor Craigie.⁠
Follow us for more #SalmonStories this fall. ⁠
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Photo credit: @iantmcallister ⁠
#marinemonday #bcsalmon #worldwatermonitoringday

It’s world clean-up day! 🌎️♻️⁠
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Keeping our environment free of garbage and pollution is critical for healthy ecosystems. Polluting our natural spaces has dire consequences for both wildlife and people. Non-biodegradable substances, like plastics, can last in an ecosystem for hundreds of years, leading to its consumption by all types of wildlife and bioaccumulation in the food chain. ⁠
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On a recent visit to the Great Bear Rainforest, our staff spent some time each day removing refuse of all kinds from the beach - most of which was plastic water bottles and discarded fishing gear. GreenPeace recently reported that fishing gear accounts for approximately 70% of plastics over 20 cm in size that float on the ocean’s surface, and 86% of the plastic waste on the seafloor.And plastic bottles can take up to 450 years to degrade! ⁠
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Biomagnification (the process in which chemical substances gradually accumulate and transfer up trophic levels, leading to increased amounts in apex predators), poses threats to humans as well as wild animals. In humans, microplastic consumption has been shown to stimulate the release of endocrine disruptors. Microplastics often also carry other chemicals toxic to the body like heavy metals and organic pollutants. ⁠
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The good news is that there are lots of initiatives around the globe to help clean up the pollution in our wild spaces, and you can help too! Find out more about how you can participate in World Clean Up Day at worldcleanupday.org.⁠
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Photo credit: Pacific Wild⁠
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#worldcleanupday #keepoceansclean #restoration

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