November 2013

Dear friend,

Wildlife in BC and across the world face tremendous threats, most of which are human-caused. Human activities can harm wild animals directly, as seen in the exotic pet trade, but also indirectly, from things like pollution and development. Although we are often aware of the intentional harms caused to wildlife from activities like pest control and feeding wildlife, it is generally the unintentional harms that have the greatest negative effect on our wildlife – window impacts, oil spills, cat predation, and vehicle collisions among others.        

With so many issues to address, populations and individual animals to help, it’s time for everyone concerned about conservation or animal welfare to work together on solutions for the future. How can you help? Take action at home or in your community with the tips in this month’s WildSense – every little bit can help reduce harms to our wildlife.

With appreciation,

Sara Dubois
Manager, Wildlife Services

PS. You can multiply your impact! Forward this message to friends, family and colleagues.

700 reasons to reduce harms to wildlife – Check out images from the 2013 WIF Photo Contest

Once again, photographers from across BC rallied to support this year’s Wildlife-In-Focus Photography Contest – submitting 700 images of our amazing provincial wildlife! In addition to capturing fantastic photos, participants raised $3,900 to help injured and orphaned wild animals at Wild ARC. Check out this year’s incredible winners and the photos that just made us say “WOW” we live in such a special place and have the privilege to share it with these wild animals!”

How can wildlife photography help reduce harms to wildlife? Besides being a wildlife-friendly activity, it helps the BC SPCA spread the message of wildlife welfare through powerful images used in our education and advocacy programs. Be sure to enter the 2014 WIF Photography Contest next July!

Photo Credit: Norman Ng, BC SPCA 2013 Wildlife-In-Focus Photography Contest – Wild Settings Winner

Federal study reveals top mortality source for birds

Each year, more birds in Canada are killed by:

1. window strikes?
2. vehicle collisions?
3. cats?
4. wind turbines?

The answer may surprise you! Free-roaming felines pose the greatest threat to birds, according to a recent study conducted by Environment Canada. In fact, cats account for more than 70 per cent of the roughly 270 million bird deaths from human-related sources each year, plus millions of small mammals, reptiles and amphibians too!

Although the numbers are daunting, we can all take action to help reduce this harm to wildlife. Keep your cats indoors and find ways to entertain them (PDF) inside the house. Encourage others to do the same. Allow your cats outside only under supervision, use a CatBib, or build them an outdoor cat enclosure. Moving forward, protecting our country’s bird populations will require each of us to do our part.

Three Fox Sparrows released after head-on collisions with windows

Many birds are treated by Wild ARC throughout the year from window strikes, especially in the spring and fall when the daylight changes. Three particular Fox Sparrows luckily were found in time to be rescued, as sadly many birds don’t survive the impact. But for these three charismatic birds, treatments for bruising and trauma were successful and within weeks they were released back to their home territories.

How can you help reduce the harm posed by windows at home or the office? The reflective surface of the window needs to become visible to the specialty UV vision of birds. WindowAlerts are a simple solution that can be placed in high impact locations and they come in a variety of designs. Also be sure to strategically place bird feeders far away from windows.

Photo Credit: Christina Carrieres, Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator

Is BC’s wildlife prepared for an oil spill?

Recent media on new pipelines and resource development are making many people wonder if BC’s wildlife are protected in the event of an oil spill or leak into our lakes? In 2011, The Oiled Wildlife Trust, a consortium of provincial wildlife organizations including the BC SPCA, issued a comprehensive report in response to the Enbridge Northern Gateway project proposal (PDF), sounding the alarm that BC’s wildlife are at great risk. For more see our recent editorial on the need for a professional wildlife to be considered essential in overall oil spill response.

Want to get directly involved in learning how to reduce the risk of this harm? Contact the Oiled Wildlife Society of BC to find out about training opportunities.

Photo credit: Focus Wildlife

Watch for wildlife as you drive this winter  

As winter snow accumulates, BC roadways become corridors for travelling wildlife. Tragically, it is also the season when vehicle collisions with wildlife peak. Salted roads attract wild animals who forage on exposed greenway strips. Deer and other ungulates are also attracted to the salt itself. Deer strikes are high along Highway 3 from Manning Park to the Okanagan and all the highways that run through the Southern Interior. Vancouver Island’s Highway 14, 19 and 1 are also high-risk for encountering deer, and the risks of striking moose and elk are highest along Highway 97 and Highway 16 between Prince George and Kitimat. As there are specific times of the year that are riskier for certain roads, data on wildlife-vehicle collisions is available.

You can help reduce the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions by driving within speed limits, slowing down in known wildlife crossing areas or high-risk roadways, and being extra careful at dawn and dusk when wildlife are most active. Do deer whistles help? Some people swear by them, but others are unsure – since they are not harmful themselves, it’s worth a try as long as you remain a cautious driver.

Photo Credit: Penny Colton, BC SPCA 2013 Wildlife-In-Focus Photography Contest

Feeding frenzy for wildlife

The potential harms to wildlife from feeding are obvious – it can cause nutritional imbalances and create a dependency on supplemental and often unreliable food sources. Feeding a wild animal not only affects that individual, but wild animals that have been fed regularly can develop food-seeking aggression and experience social stress within their population. As they lose their fear of people and associated flight response, fed wildlife are also more susceptible to predators and vehicle collisions. Last but not least, habituated wild animals can become aggressive toward people and pets.

You can help to reduce this preventable harm by not participating in wildlife feeding and by discouraging others – this applies to both our backyards and parks, as well as when on vacation! Remember those novel animals like stingrays, dolphins, sharks and monkeys fed in foreign countries are backyard animals for locals, and they can suffer the same consequences from feeding once your holiday is over!

Photo Credit: Krystal Watson

Time to work past the sibling rivalry between Conservation and Animal Welfare

The survival of one moose may not make a difference to the local population, but it has intrinsic value and a dramatic rescue like this brings together people of all backgrounds. Often conservation goals, such as preserving populations only, seem to be at odds with animal welfare concerns. Those who defend the needs of a species over the welfare of individual animals, such as the conflict between Spotted Owls versus Barred Owls, may not see a path for common ground. But these sciences don’t have to be so incompatible – as seen in recent research conducted at UBC, many British Columbians, both public and experts, want to see conservation and animal welfare work together as they share an overall concern about harms to wildlife.

Photo credit:  Chris Gale, BC SPCA 2013 Wildlife-In-Focus Photography Contest

Help address harms to wildlife this holiday season with a unique gift

Looking for that perfect gift for that special someone that doesn’t really need anything? Or want to inspire a young person with a generous gift in their name? Sponsor a special wild animal or cage habitat this holiday season for family and friends at home and abroad!

E-cards, printable cards and animal certificates are available to send to your gift recipient to acknowledge your tax-receiptable donation. Select from a variety of critters like otters and hummingbirds, as well as avian and mammal cages, easily online and your gift will directly help BC wildlife recover from the dangerous harms they face.

Photo credit: Christina Carrieres, Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator