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
Similar to humans, wolves live in social groups. These groups, known as packs, vary in structure from small nuclear families consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring to larger extended families that include aunts, uncles, grandparents, and adopted siblings.
Wolves engage in activities such as playing, bonding, and feeding together that mirror human social behaviors. The size and composition of a pack is determined by factors such as landscape and prey availability. The loss of a pack member, as seen in events such as the B.C. wolf cull program or wildlife killing contests, can have a profound effect not only on the ecosystem dynamic but also on the remaining members, causing devastation and trauma.
Show your support for keeping wolf families together and help us stop the wolf cull and inhumane wildlife killing contests (link in our bio).
🎥 & 📷 @iantmcallister
#wolves #savebcwolves #wolfcull #wildlifeprotection #wildlifeconservation
Over the last few weeks, southern Vancouver Island has been captivated by Emerson, the northern elephant seal. Like his southern hemisphere counterpart, @neiltheseal22 of Tasmania, Emerson has formed a habit of hauling out in city limits. Unfortunately for Emerson, his preferred haul out locations offer little privacy, putting him in the path of hundreds of walkers, joggers, photographers, dogs and a handful of vehicles in just a few short days.
It is moulting season for elephant seals, a process in which they haul out on land for several weeks at a time to shed their fur and skin. It is an uncomfortable process that can put the seals in an agitated state where interactions with other species add unnecessary additional stress.
Thanks to the continued efforts of Fisheries and Oceans staff, Emerson has been relocated to a remote area where he can moult in peace. As a reminder, under the federal marine mammal regulations, people (and pets) must avoid approaching marine and coastal wildlife including seals closer than 100 metres. If you see an elephant seal or other marine mammal, please maintain a respectful distance, keep pets on leash and watch children at all times.
Let’s work together to help keep our marine life safe!
🎥 @sydneycdixon & @pacificimagery *
📷 @wa_orcanetwork & Eli Katz *
📝Stitch @couriermail
** captured with a telephoto lens and cropped
#marineprotection #marineconservation #vancouverisland #elephantseal #marinemammals #relocation
Did you know wildlife killing contests are legal in British Columbia? Contestants are awarded points for the most and largest animals killed - for cash, prizes and entertainment.
These months-long “predator tournaments” are currently ongoing, some culminating in mid-April, and are often advertised by gun clubs, or outdoor stores. The targeted species range from ravens to racoons, with a focus on large predators like bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes and are often falsely branded by hunters as “predator control” or “ungulate survival” to entice participation. Read more on our website about how these tournaments operate under the guise of wildlife management.
Not only are these contests cruel and inhumane, but they also pose serious threats to the delicate balance of our ecosystems. By targeting specific species without regard for their ecological roles, these contests disrupt natural predator-prey dynamics and can have cascading effects on entire ecosystems.
For a province that prides itself on its native wildlife and whose economy relies heavily on ecotourism, it is shocking that B.C. continues to allow these competitions to take place. The provincial and federal governments have a responsibility to steward wildlife in trust for broader ecosystem needs and for future generations.
Add your voice by sending our pre-written letter to the government demanding an end to these unethical competitions. Let’s call for policies that promote evidence-based wildlife management practices and prioritise the well being of all species.
🎥 Bear and wolf footage from @iantmcallister
#stopkillingcontests #wildlifeconservation #wildlifephotography #visualstorytelling #protectwildlife
Open-net salmon farms pose serious environmental and sanitary problems worldwide and threaten the survival of wild salmon. The issue has gained international attention with high-profile environmental activists such as the brand @patagonia and @leonardodicaprio, joining the movement calling for the removal of open-net salmon farms from Icelandic and British Columbia (B.C.) waters. Thank you!
Along with other numerous conservation organizations, over 120 First Nations, independent scientists and with the support of 75% of people in B.C., Pacific Wild reminds the Canadian federal government of its promise to “transition away from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters by 2025”. However, in a troubling Committee appearance by the Fisheries Minister last week, Diane Lebouthillier stated that “…of course [net pens] will not be closed in 2025. This is not realistic. It can’t be done.” Instead of removing pens by 2025, she plans only to introduce a transition plan which will lead to the renewal of fish farm licenses for up to six years in B.C. waters.
Wild fish can’t wait, it is time for Canada to uphold its promise to Canadians to remove open-net salmon farms from B.C. coastal waters now.
By transitioning to land-based recirculating aquaculture systems and investing in economic diversification initiatives, such as the project finance for permanence (PFP) initiative in the Great Bear Sea, we can invest in and support stewardship and sustainable economic development in coastal communities.
Follow the link in our bio to support the removal of open-net salmon farms.
📸 A huge thanks to @clayoquot.action for the picture and their incredible work in investigating the impact of fish farms in Clayoquot Sound.
#marineprotection #marineconservation #wildsalmons #fishfarmsout #activism
Have you ever met the Kermode spirit bear, one of the rarest bears on the planet?
Spirit bears are a rare, white or cream-coated black bear endemic to the Great Bear Rainforest. The white coloration of the spirit bear is caused by a recessive gene that must be inherited from both parents to be born with a white coat. It is theorized that their white fur helps them catch fish in the daytime because they blend in more easily with the overcast sky than their black siblings.
Spirit bears are culturally and economically important. They are deeply integrated into many aspects of culture, including songs, dances, stories and teachings for some coastal First Nations. The Kitasoo Xai’xais and Gitga’at First Nations have successfully banned black bear hunting in key parts of their territories to protect future generations of these rare white-coloured bears, called Moksgm’ol.
Although hunting of spirit bears has been banned since the 1950s, black bear hunting posed a threat to the gene pool and endangered the spirit bear population. The ban on hunting black bears in critical areas aims to protect these unique bears and their habitat.
🎥 Ian McAllister
#wildlife #wildlifeconservation #blackbears #spiritbears #greatbearrainforest
“No conservation efforts can succeed without a profound change in our attitudes toward wildlife.”
Dr. Gosia Bryja is an expert on the psychological bases for how we perceive and interact with large carnivores. She explains that conservation efforts undertaken for the protection of predators like bears and wolves can massively be hindered by irrational fears, myths and misconceptions deeply ingrained in customs and maintained by the media.
For example, the perception of an animal as « ferocious and dangerous » results from our tendency to confuse a minimal actual risk with an exaggerated perceived risk. Typically, instances of successful and peaceful interactions do not make headlines in the local media. However, any incident that suggests a potential risk can shape public opinion and reinforce negative labels of the animals.
Dr. Bryja suggests more compassion towards our wild neighbors and working on our ability to see bears and wolves as distinct individuals with their own stories and lives to unfold. How do you feel about that?
Read more about “Why We Misjudge Wolves, Bears, and Other Large Carnivores” in Psychology Today.
🎥 Ian McAllister
#wildlife #wildlifeconservation #wolves #bears #conservationefforts #visualstorytelling
