Category Archives: Animals

Animals

The Quadra Project: Biological Wonders – Part 3

Leave a comment

Click here to access part one of this series and here for part two .

• A species of weaver ant found from India to northern Australia
(Oecophylla smaragdina) makes its nests by curling leaves into loops.
The leaves, however, are too stiff for any single ant to accomplish this feat. To solve this problem, the ants form a chain of up to 17 individuals. Using their mandibles, each ant grabs the abdomen of the previous ant, and they all pull together to bend the leaves. Using this tug-of-war strategy, the ants are able to pull up to 100 times their individual body weight (New Scientist, 23 August, 2025).

Continue reading The Quadra Project: Biological Wonders – Part 3 →
Animals, Indigenous Nations

Upper Nicola program a ‘gold standard’ in effort to save B.C.’s burrowing owls

By Aaron Walker, Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A decade after the first burrowing owls were released onto its reserve lands, the Upper Nicola Band is marking what leaders and partners describe as a rare conservation success in a province where the species remains on the brink.

On April 22, community members, knowledge keepers, and conservation partners gathered on the Douglas Lake reserve to release six more captive-raised burrowing owls as part of an ongoing recovery effort that has quietly become one of the most productive breeding sites for the species in British Columbia.

Continue reading Upper Nicola program a ‘gold standard’ in effort to save B.C.’s burrowing owls →
Animals

Celebrating Women in Science: Laurel Bohart

Originally published by the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, University of British Columbia

By Ildiko Szabo

On February 11th, UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum is honouring Laurel Bohart (Née Dick).

A graduate of the University of British Columbia with a BSc in Zoology (1977), Laurel went on to earn a Master’s degree in Museum Science, with a minor in Ornithology, from Texas Tech University (1980). Through her work as a taxidermist and science educator, she has played an important role in preserving scientific knowledge and making it accessible to diverse audiences.

Continue reading Celebrating Women in Science: Laurel Bohart →
Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Social smarts help BC humpbacks adapt as oceans change

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Whale researcher Janie Wray vividly remembers the first time she saw humpbacks bubble-net feeding on the northern BC coast more than 20 years ago.

First, the mournful calls begin at depth, followed by a perfect ring of bubbles rising through the water. Moments later, herring scatter and flash as they leap from the ocean as up to a dozen humpbacks surge upwards in unison, breaking the surface with their maws agape.

Continue reading Social smarts help BC humpbacks adapt as oceans change →
Animals

Campbell River among BC’s worst communities for putting down black bears in 2025

Campbell River had one of the province’s worst records for putting down black bears in 2025. The BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) dispatched 13 black bears in the village of Ucluelet, but the city of Campbell River and District of Sechelt tied for second place at 7 kills each. This puts them ahead of larger city’s like Prince George (5 kills), Kamloops (4 kills) and Kelowna (2), as well as every other community in British Columbia.

Continue reading Campbell River among BC’s worst communities for putting down black bears in 2025 →