November 10, 2024As the temperatures plummet and the wind grows icy, we sometimes wonder how we’ll ever survive until spring! The winter months pose many challenges not only for companion and farm animals, but for wildlife as well. Luckily they – just like us – have developed strategies and adaptations to help them make it through the chilly …
Continue reading “Got the cold weather blues? Wild animals do too!”
News Category: Wildlife
November 1, 2024The BC SPCA generally doesn’t recommend feeding wildlife – but what about bird feeders? Backyard bird feeding is the most widespread and popular form of human-wildlife interaction worldwide – but did you know that bird feeders are a common place for birds to get sick? Wild ARC commonly admits birds suffering from conjunctivitis – an …
Continue reading “Get the facts on backyard bird feeding”
News Category: Wildlife
August 26, 2024Every year wildfires devastate lives and communities in British Columbia, putting wildlife and humans at risk. Wild animals have developed strategies to fly, run or bury themselves to escape from fires, but the change in habitat and food resources will have a lasting impact for generations. What happens to wildlife during a wildfire? Most animals …
Continue reading “How wildfires affect wildlife”
News Category: Wildlife
July 26, 2024Social media has made exotic animals more accessible than ever. Just search for “unusual pets” on TikTok or YouTube, and you will be inundated with videos of prairie dogs being walked outside on leashes, servals roughhousing with house cats and capybaras lounging on beds eating watermelon. Most people would never seriously consider keeping a prairie …
Continue reading “5 ways to help exotic animals right now”
News Category: Wildlife
May 8, 2024Spring is here once again and, with it, a new baby season. Across the province, wild animals of all kinds are busy starting families. Sadly, these families are vulnerable to attacks from cats venturing outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather too. Cats are natural hunters With their keen eyesight and agile bodies, cats are built …
Continue reading “Prevent a cat-astrophe: Protect wild babies from cat attacks”
News Category: Wildlife
April 26, 2024As we head outside to tend our yards and gardens, an unseen — and often underappreciated — world of work is happening all around us. Beneath our feet and overhead, insects of all kinds are busy helping to propagate and protect plants. “There’s an astonishing diversity of insects here in British Columbia,” says Nadia Xenakis, …
Continue reading “Beneficial bugs? You better bee-lieve it!”
News Category: Wildlife
April 12, 2024Delving into the world of backyard habitats not only offers joy and fulfilment, it also fosters a deeper connection with the vibrant wildlife thriving in your very own neighbourhood. Learn how to create a backyard habitat that helps nurture local wildlife and brings birds and animals to your backyard. Whether you live in the city …
Continue reading “How to appreciate wildlife in your own backyard”
News Category: Wildlife
March 7, 2024UPDATE: Health Canada has announced a complete ban on strychnine use in Canada after consulting the public and stakeholders. All uses of strychnine will be illegal by September 7, 2024 and all registrations of strychnine will be cancelled. While this decision is a very positive outcome for animal welfare, this ban does not apply to …
Continue reading “Health Canada has announced a complete ban on strychnine use—a positive outcome for animal welfare”
News Category: Take action, Wildlife
February 12, 2024Suppose you are looking out at a green space near your home and spot an interesting bird. Grabbing your phone, you open a bird identification app and log your observation. The day you logged your observation coincides with the Great Backyard Bird Count and you have joined people all around the world submitting their bird …
Continue reading “Citizen science lends wildlife a helping hand”
News Category: Wildlife
January 23, 2024As we say goodbye to 2023, the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) is already preparing for this year’s busy season. Thanks to the dedication of staff, volunteers and our community, Wild ARC was able to care for 2,132 animals last year from 131 different species, each with their own unique diet, treatment …
Continue reading “Wild ARC year-in-review – 2,132 animals treated in 2023”
News Category: Wildlife