Human disturbances, such as off-leash dogs and increased tourism, are causing a decline in shorebird populations at the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, disrupting their critical stopover habitat and reflecting broader global biodiversity challenges.

A mother cougar and two adolescent cubs have been repeatedly sighted in Mesachie Lake, B.C., since August, prompting safety concerns from residents. Conservation officers are monitoring the situation and advise precautions but say there’s no evidence of aggression toward people.

A fuel tanker crashed Friday off Highway 101, spilling some 3,000 gallons of fossil fuels into Indian Creek. The creek is a tributary of the Elwha River, which has for years been a model for salmon recovery efforts.

A blue-green algae bloom detected at Lower Thetis Lake’s main beach prompted a Capital Regional District health advisory on July 20, 2025, warning humans and pets to avoid the water.

A 4-year-old child was attacked and injured by a cougar while hiking near Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park; the National Park Service is seeking witnesses.

A bloom of non-toxic Noctiluca algae is lining Saanich Inlet’s shoreline; safe for swimmers and shellfish consumption so far. Scientists say the bloom is not producing toxins yet, but could as the water gets warmer. “This one is a bit early!” said Galbraith.

Victoria is close to setting a record for the longest January dry streak, with only 18% of normal precipitation recorded this month.

A sea otter was seen climbing onto surfboards and following surfers near Sooke, British Columbia, prompting safety warnings from Fisheries and Oceans Canada regarding interactions with marine mammals.

A 23-year-old male orca named Noah made a surprising visit to Victoria's Inner Harbour on December 14, causing excitement among locals.

The Orca Conservancy said the sightings made history. Some whale watchers hope it will again raise awareness of the need to protect them.

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe catches coho salmon on the free-flowing Elwha River for the first time in over a century since the removal of dams, marking a historic moment for the tribe and the river's recovery.

Three adult harbor seals in Puget Sound have tested positive for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 strain, marking the first incidence of HPAI in marine mammals on the West Coast, and officials are urging beachgoers to avoid contact with wildlife.

Joe Gaydos found a bluefin tuna washed up on Orcas Island off the coast of Washington state. According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the fish usually roam the more temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean.

“We spent the weekend outdoors camping on the peninsula and notices shoreline grasses has dried and shriveled.”

New fish have been spotted in a recently revitalized section of Craigflower Creek in View Royal, B.C., thanks to a development site with an environmental focus.

In 2022, a record number of Bigg’s killer whales (orcas) and humpback whales were spotted in the waters surrounding Victoria as well as south along Washington’s border.

A B.C. photographer and her dog found a Giant Pacific octopus washed up on the shore of a Vancouver Island beach.

Observations this year from Huu-ay-aht territory see that volume of herring may finally be improving, as the First Nation is reporting a growing number of wild salmon migrating through its rivers.

Volunteers from the Friends of Bowker Creek Society say uncovering caddisfly larvae in the gravel beds of the stream show the water quality has improved to a level sufficient to sustain salmon and cutthroat trout.

Two distinct species of orcas feed and socialize in the waters of Puget Sound: fish-eating endangered southern resident killer whales and transient, or Bigg’s, killer whales, which feed on marine mammals and are more common. They seldom mix.