B.C.’s amateur wildlife photographers answered the call for photos of the province’s beautiful wildlife in a big way for the BC SPCA’s 16th annual Wildlife-in-Focus photography contest.
“With more than 500 photos submitted, choosing the top picks was a challenge for the contest judges,” says Andrea Wallace, BC SPCA’s manager, wild animal welfare. “We want to thank all the participants for sharing their amazing photos of B.C.’s diverse wildlife and helping to raise $8,426 to help BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre care for injured and orphaned wild animals.”
Participants competed in two categories: ‘Backyard Habitats’ highlighting our special relationship with wild animals in our backyards and ‘Wild Settings’ featuring photos of animals in their natural habitats.
Now for the winners!
Backyard Habitats
1st place: Bruce Turnbull (Penticton) – Northern flicker
“I am thrilled to have my photograph of a Northern flicker feeding their young selected as the winner of the Backyard Habitats category,” says Bruce Turnbull. “Wildlife photography is a passion of mine, as is studying the wildlife I photograph and learning about the challenges they face. Supporting organizations like the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) who protect and help our wildlife is very important to me and I am glad my photo helped to raise much needed funds for the organization.”
2nd place: Lesley Carere (North Saanich) – Rufous hummingbird
3rd place: Rosalind LeBlanc (Vancouver) – Mallard duck
Wild Settings
1st place: Janine Brooke (North Vancouver) – Coyote
“We are very lucky to have so much wildlife in metro Vancouver,” says Janine Brooke. “I’m very excited to have my photograph of the coyote chosen as the winner of the Wildlife Settings category. This coyote was hunting in the marshes – it is one of my favourite subjects to photograph. By sharing my photos, I hope to introduce the viewer to a world we so often overlook in our busy lives and spark an interest in the wildlife around us.”
2nd place: Ashley Giovannini (Kelowna) – Grizzly bear
3rd place: Sebastien Nadeau (Squamish) – Pygmy owl
People’s Choice Award
Sam Gorick (Mill Bay) – Raccoon
The winning photos chosen by the judges, as well as the top 12 most popular photos chosen by voters, will be featured in a limited edition pack of greeting cards. The top three winning photos in each category will also be featured on a limited edition tote bag. Both make a special gift for the wildlife lover in your life and will be available soon in October through the BC SPCA’s online store.
Visit BC SPCA Wildlife-in-Focus to view all the winners and honourable mentions, and all the incredible photos captured by photographers across B.C.