B.C. has had a lot of snow already this winter! You may have snow in your area, or get some before winter ends. If you do, it can be a great chance to learn more about the wildlife living nearby. 

Wildlife tracks are signs of animals that show up more easily when it has snowed. You can examine tracks to figure out what kind of animal has passed by, where they came from and where they went. Check out your local library or search online for guides to animal tracks. Take pictures to help you identify tracks after your winter walk! 

Same goes for scat – that’s the wildlife word for poop. You can learn a lot, just by looking, about what animal it came from and what they’ve been eating recently. 

Join our friends Kat and Fin and learn more about being a snow sleuth from this past Bark! article. Discover details about some specific animals’ tracks and scat.

See examples and learn more about identifying animal tracks from this SciShow Kids video, Animal Track Detective. Even if it’s more rainy than snowy where you are, you’ll find some tips about spotting tracks in the mud!

ANIMALS AFTER SCHOOL (Virtual after school series)

Date: Jan. 18, 25 & Feb. 1
Time: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ages: 8 to 14
Cost: $25

Back by popular demand, it’s Animals After School! Join us for this virtual series as we explore how to make the world a better place for animals. Meet some new furry friends from around the province, play games and challenge yourself to learn some wild and wonderful animal facts. Join the fun as we chill after school with the animals! Register today. 

WINTER WILDLIFE WONDERS (Virtual pro-d day workshop)

Date: Feb. 18
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Ages: 8 to 14
Cost: $25 (register by Feb. 4 and receive $5 off)

No matter where you live, wild animals are your neighbours! Let’s learn how to be good neighbours to them. This wintry workshop will explore what animals do in winter, with a sprinkle of citizen science, a special guest speaker, plus a flurry of fun furry and feathered facts. It’s going to be wild! Register today.

Is your family looking for a confident cat with a big personality? If so, Lester may be the one for you! 

Currently staying at the Castlegar SPCA, Lester arrived after a kind family took him in as a stray and nursed him back to health. Unable to keep Lester forever, they asked that he be placed for adoption in a loving home. 

Lester is a big, snuggly and playful cat looking for a home with safe outdoor space to explore. He could live with other cats (preferably female) and dogs. He also has experience living with kids! 

If you think Lester might be right for your family, see his full profile here. 

Please note that Lester was available for adoption at the time this article was written and may have found his forever home by now. You can see all animals looking for homes at spca.bc.ca/adopt.

When Captain and Maria arrived at the Shuswap SPCA, they were starving, nervous and both in need of medical treatment. Luckily, along with the care of staff and volunteers, they had each other. These sweet, snuggly dogs – 200 pounds combined – were nicknamed the “married couple” at the shelter because they were inseparable. “One wouldn’t walk without the other; they went together or it just wasn’t happening.”

It was clear that Captain and Maria needed a home together. Soon they found one, on a farm with their new guardians. They are enjoying plenty of time playing together outside as well as curled up in their comfortable home. Captain is learning to be more confident when Maria isn’t around. Maria is enjoying more adventures, like exploring the nearby forest roads in a jeep. They are still the best of friends. 

Read more about Captain and Maria’s adoption story here.