Parksville

A campfire ban is being reintroduced across much of British Columbia’s Coastal Fire Centre, including most of Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, as hot, dry weather raises wildfire danger. The restriction begins July 16 and is expected to remain until October 31 unless lifted earlier.

A Parksville fisherman hooked and briefly landed a bluntnose sixgill shark just off French Creek on Vancouver Island. The rare catch, estimated at 10 feet long and 400 pounds, was released after the line broke.

Snuneymuxw First Nation conservation crews rescued more than 5,000 young coho salmon from drying side channels of the Nanaimo River as unusually low flows and warm temperatures stressed the fish. Many of the smolts were tagged and released into cooler main-river habitat where their survival chances are higher.

The Regional District of Nanaimo has moved to Stage 3 water restrictions because of abnormally dry conditions on eastern Vancouver Island. Lawn watering is now limited to one day a week, while some areas already under Stage 4 restrictions remain unchanged.

A baby emu near Nanaimo was born with two extra non-functioning legs and is being cared for with braces and daily monitoring. After being rejected by its siblings, the chick has been adopted by ducklings and may eventually go to a sanctuary if it stays healthy.

A 21-year-old humpback whale, identified as Polyphemus, was found dead near Lasqueti Island, the second confirmed humpback death in B.C.’s coastal waters in just over two weeks. Cause of death is unknown; DFO and MERS urge caution to mariners to reduce vessel-strike risks.

The Mount Underwood wildfire south of Port Alberni grew to 630 hectares on August 11, prompting highway closures, campground evacuations, and a power outage affecting over 500 customers.

The Wesley Ridge wildfire near Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island has expanded to nearly 590 hectares, and smoke is expected to linger across the region through the summer.

A human-caused wildfire on Nahamint Mountain south of Sproat Lake grew overnight from about 10 to 15 hectares, remaining out of control as BC Wildfire Service crews and helicopters respond.

A bomb cyclone hitting Vancouver Island has caused widespread power outages, affecting over 140,000 BC Hydro customers and leading to the closure of multiple highways on the island.

Jackie Hildering was astonished by a recent photo depicting an enormous Mola mola submitted to the Marine Education Resource Society citizen science project, which is collecting data on two different species of sunfish along the Pacific Coast.

Researchers at Memorial University, Ocean Networks Canada and the University of Victoria found the urchins, living as deep as 400 metres below, were expanding their populations into shallower water at an average rate of 3.5 metres per year as ocean warming reduces oxygen levels and food sources at lower depths.

Goldfish have a special ability to live under extreme conditions, making them prolific invaders of natural habitats. They are tolerant to low oxygen conditions and can survive water temperatures well below freezing, said the Invasive Species Council of B.C. on their website.

Decades ago, wall lizards from the Mediterranean got a toehold near Victoria. Now they’re island-hopping.

When Kathleen Reed descended for her usual weekly dive off the coast of Nanaimo, B.C., last Saturday she was shocked by how many dead sea cucumbers she saw. Experts and harvesters fear that sea cucumbers are being hit by an illness similar to sea star wasting disease.

Sweeping salmon closures and protection measures were put in place for the 2021 season to protect stocks of concern. Between 200 and 250 illegal fishing nets have been seized on the Fraser River so far this year.

In early April I observed what appears to be widespread disease of Arbutus trees (Arbutus menziesii) on the island. Leaf blight is a known factor affecting Arbutus trees; but I wonder if other factors such as climate change may also be contributing to what is perceived as a general decline of the species.

Ferocious fish, not native to Canada, was netted and released in Alberni Inlet

Southern resident killer whales made their first appearance in the Salish Sea on Canada Day after more than two months with only a brief sighting off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

A Parksville photographer has captured some stunning images of a grey whale that has been hanging out in the community of Nanoose Bay over the past several days.