Citation: Williams, R.W., Erin Ashe  and Patrick D. O’Hara. 2011. Marine Mammals and Debris in Coastal Waters of British Columbia, Canada. Marine Pollution Bulletin.  In press.

Download the press release Marine Debris Press Release

Download the paper Williams_etal_MPB[2011]

Peter Dettling’s new book “The Will of the Land” takes an important look at wolves and grizzlies in the region of Banff National Park.  Peter is a remarkable photographer and advocate for wildlife. The foreward is written by Raincoast’s Dr. Paul Paquet.

Check out Peter Dettling’s website and the book’s trailer  The Will of the Land

Edited by Richard P. Reading, Brian Miller, Amy L. Masching, Rob Edward, and Michael K. Phillips, the book offers fascinating insight on restoring the wolf population to the southern Rockies.  Detailed reports by wildlife biologists, geographers, legal and policy experts, and conservationists provide a comprehensive look at not only the ecological imperatives, but also the history, legal framework, and public attitudes affecting the future of wolves.

Read the chapter:   The Importance of Large Carnivores

Order the book from Amazon:  Awakening Spirits Wolves of the Southern Rockies

Heather M. Bryan, Chris T. Darimont, Paul C. Paquet, John A. Ellis, Noriko Goji, Maëlle Gouix, Judit E. Smits

Citation:

Bryan, Heather M., Chris T. Darimont, Paul C. Paquet, John A. Ellis, Noriko Goji, Maëlle Gouix, and Judit E. Smits. 2011. Exposure to infectious agents in dogs in remote coastal British Columbia: Possible sentinels of diseases in wildlife and humans. Can.J.Vet.Res. 75:11-17

Ab s t r a c t

Ranked among the top threats to conservation worldwide, infectious disease is of particular concern for wild canids because domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) may serve as sources and reservoirs of infection. On British Columbia’s largely undeveloped but rapidly changing central and north coasts, little is known about diseases in wolves (Canis lupus) or other wildlife. However, several threats exist for transfer of diseases among unvaccinated dogs and wolves. To gain baseline data on infectious agents in this area, including those with zoonotic potential, we collected blood and stool samples from 107 dogs in 5 remote communities in May and September 2007. Serology revealed that the dogs had been exposed to canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus,

Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine respiratory coronavirus, and Leptospira interrogans. No dogs showed evidence of exposure to Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, or Cryptococcus gattii. Of 75 stool samples, 31 contained at least 1 parasitic infection, including Taeniid tapeworms, the nematodes Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina, and the protozoans Isospora sp., Giardia sp., Cryptosporidium sp., and Sarcocystis sp. This work provides a sound baseline for future monitoring of infectious agents that could affect dogs, sympatric wild canids, other wildlife, and humans.

Sidney, B.C. – A new study published today in the journal Public Library of Science ONE by researchers from Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, and the Universities of Victoria and Simon Fraser provides the first link between salmon farms and elevated levels of sea lice on juvenile Fraser River sockeye salmon.The article, Sea Louse Infection of Juvenile Sockeye Salmon in Relation to Marine Salmon Farms on Canada’s West Coast, genetically identified 30 distinct stocks of infected Fraser sockeye that pass by open net-pen salmon farms in the Strait of Georgia, including the endangered Cultus Lake stock. The study found that parasitism of Fraser sockeye increased significantly after the juvenile fish passed by fish farms. These same species of lice were found in substantial numbers on the salmon farms.

Not only did juvenile Fraser sockeye host higher lice levels in the Georgia Strait after they passed salmon farms, these fish hosted an order of magnitude more sea lice than Skeena and Nass River sockeye that migrated along the north coast where there are no farms. “The implications of these infections are not fully clear, but in addition to any direct physical and behavioural impacts on juvenile sockeye, sea lice may also serve as vectors of disease or indicators of other farm-origin pathogens” said Michael Price, lead author.

The data further showed that the differences in infection level for one species of louse in relation to fish farm exposure could not be explained by differences in salinity or temperature. “Given the high intensities of lice observed on some juveniles in this study—up to 28 lice/fish— there’s an urgent need to understand the extent of threat posed by sea lice to juvenile Fraser River sockeye” said Dr. Craig Orr, a co-author of the study.

The study also recorded the highest lice levels on juvenile sockeye near a farmed salmon processing plant in the Georgia Strait, heightening concern for the full potential impact of the salmon farm industry on wild salmon in this region.
Sea lice from salmon farms are likely another stressor for sockeye already subjected to multiple human impacts. Importantly, however, risks to juvenile sockeye from open net-pen salmon farms can be much more easily mitigated than changes to ocean conditions from climate change and ocean acidification. Options already recommended include removal of farm salmon from the migration routes of juvenile sockeye, and transition of salmon farms to closed-containment facilities.

Sea Louse Infection of Juvenile Sockeye Salmon in Relation to Marine Salmon Farms on Canada’s West Coast list of authors:
Michael HH Price (1,2)  Stan L Proboszcz(3), Rick D Routledge(4), Allen S Gottesfeld(5), Craig Orr(3), John D Reynolds(4)
1 Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
2 Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sidney, BC, Canada
3 Watershed Watch Salmon Society, Coquitlam, BC, Canada
4 Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
5 Skeena Fisheries Commission, Hazelton, BC, Canada
To view the study, visit:

http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016851

For more information contact:

Michael Price
Raincoast Conservation Foundation (www.raincoast.org) / University of Victoria
pricem@uvic.ca (250-847-1519)

Dr. Craig Orr
Watershed Watch Salmon Society (www.watershed-watch.org) – member group of the
Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform
corr@telus.net
(604-809-2799)

Relevant photos and B-roll available.
Both Raincoast Conservation Foundation and Watershed Watch Salmon Society are part of the Conservation Coalition – a participant group of the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River.

M.H.H. Price, A. Morton, and J.D. Reynolds. 2010. Evidence of farm-induced parasite infestations on wild juvenile salmon in multiple regions of coastal British Columbia, Canada. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 67: 1925–1932

Journal Link   (Volume 67:1925-1932)

Darimont, Chris T., Heather M. Bryan, Stephanie M. Carlson, Morgan D. Hocking, Misty MacDuffee, Paul C. Paquet, Michael H.H. Price, Thomas E. Reimchen, John D. Reynolds, and Christopher C. Wilmers. 2010.  Salmon for Protected Terrestrial Areas. Conservation Letters Vol 3 (6): 379–389.               Journal link (Volume 3, Issue 6)

Paquet, P.C., and C.T. Darimont. 2010. Wildlife conservation meets animal welfare: two sides of the same coin? Animal Welfare 19: 177-190

MacDuffee, M and E. MacIssac. 2009.  Applications of paleolimnology to sockeye salmon nursery laks and ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska: Proceedings of a workshop at the Institute of Ocean Sciences.  Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2847.

Muñoz-Fuentes, V., C.T. Darimont, R.K. Wayne, P.C. Paquet, and J.A. Leonard.  2009. The genetic legacy of extirpation and re-colonization in Vancouver Island wolves. Conservation Genetics. 11(2): 547-556                   (Journal link: Volume 11, Number 2)

Munoz -Fuentes, V., C.T. Darimont, R.K. Wayne, P.C. Paquet, and J.A. Leonard.  2009. Ecological factors drive genetic differentiation in British Columbia gray wolves. Journal of Biogeography. 36 (8): 1516-1531       (Journal link Volume 36, Issue 8)

Darimont, C.T., S.M. Carlson, M.T. Kinnison, P.C. Paquet, T.E. Reimchen, and C.C. Wilmers. 2009. Reply to Koons: Harvest-related trait changes in an increasingly variable world. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (On-line Letters).

Darimont, C.T., S.M. Carlson, M.T. Kinnison, P.C. Paquet, T.E. Reimchen, and C.C. Wilmers. 2009.  Human predators outpace other agents of trait change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106: 952-954.

Darimont, C.T., P.C. Paquet, and T.E. Reimchen. 2009. Landscape heterogeneity and marine subsidy generate extensive niche variation in a terrestrial carnivore. Journal of Animal Ecology 79: 126-133

Price, M.H.H., C.T. Darimont, N.F. Temple, and S.M. MacDuffee. 2008. Ghost Runs: Management and status assessment of Pacific salmon returning to British Columbia’s central and north coasts. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65:2712-2718

Darimont, C.T., T.E. Reimchen, H. Bryan, and P.C. Paquet. 2008. Faecal-centric approaches to wildlife ecology and conservation; methods, data and ethics. Wildlife Biology in Practice  4:73-87

Darimont, C.T., P.C. Paquet, and T.E. Reimchen. 2008. Spawning salmon disrupt tight trophic coupling between wolves and ungulate prey in coastal British Columbia.  BMC Ecology 8:14

Christensen, J.R., M. MacDuffee, M.B Yunker, and P.S. Ross. 2007. Hibernation associated changes in persistent organic pollutants (POP) levels and patterns in British Columbia grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). Environmental Science and Technology. 41: 1834-1840

Darimont, C.T., P.C. Paquet, and T.E. Reimchen. 2007. Stable isotopic niche predicts fitness of prey in a wolf-deer system. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 90: 125-137.

Thomas, L., R. Williams, and D. Sandilands, D.  2007.  Designing line transect surveys for complex survey regions. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. 9(1):1-13,

Williams, R. and L. Thomas. 2007. Distribution and abundance of marine mammals in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. 9(1):15-28,

Bryan, H.M, C.T. Darimont, T.E. Reimchen, and P.C. Paquet. 2006. Early ontogenetic diet of wolves. Canadian Field-Naturalist 20: 61-66.

Paquet, P.C., S.M. Alexander, P.L. Swan, and C.T. Darimont. 2006. The influence of natural landscape fragmentation and resource availability on connectivity and distribution of marine gray wolf populations on the Central Coast, British Columbia, Canada. In Crooks, K. and M.A. Sanjayan (Eds.) Connectivity Conservation. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK.

Christensen, J.R., M. MacDuffee, R.W. MacDonald, M. Whiticar, and P.S. Ross. 2005. Persistent Organic Pollutants in British Columbia Grizzly Bears: Consequence of divergent diets. Environmental Science and Technology.  39: 6952-6960

Darimont, C.T., P.C. Paquet, T.E. Reimchen, and V. Crichton. 2005. Range expansion by moose into coastal temperate rainforests of British Columbia, Canada. Diversity and Distributions 11: 235-239.

Paquet, P.C., C.T. Darimont, F.M. Moola, and C. Genovali. 2005.  Connectivity where the land meets the sea; preserving the last of the best. Wild Earth 14: 21-25.

Price, M.H.H., C.T. Darimont, N.N. Winchester, and P.C. Paquet. 2005. Facts from faeces: prey remains in wolf faeces revise occurrence records for mammals of British Columbia’s coastal archipelago. Canadian Field-Naturalist 119: 192-196.

Darimont, C.T., M.H.H. Price, N.N. Winchester, J. Gordon-Walker, and P.C. Paquet. 2004. Predators in natural fragments: foraging ecology of wolves in British Columbia’s central and north coast archipelago. Journal of Biogeography 31: 1867-1877.

Darimont, C.T., T.E. Reimchen and P.C. Paquet. 2003. Foraging behaviour by gray wolves on salmon streams in coastal British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Zoology 81: 349-353.

Darimont, C.T., and P.C. Paquet. 2002. The gray wolves, Canis lupus, of British Columbia’s central and north coast: distribution and conservation assessment. Canadian Field-Naturalist 116: 416-422.

Darimont, C.T., and T.E. Reimchen. 2002. Intra-hair stable isotope analysis implies seasonal shift to salmon in gray wolf diet. Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 1638-1642.

Download the paper   Price etal 2010 Farm-induced lice infestations CJFAS 2010

Sidney, B.C. – Today, the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences published findings by the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and other researchers on sea lice infestations of wild juvenile salmon near salmon farms.  The article, Evidence of farm-induced parasite infestations on wild juvenile salmon in multiple regions of coastal British Columbia, Canada, suggests that salmon farms in multiple regions elevate levels of sea lice on wild juvenile salmon.

Salmon farms in areas beyond the Broughton Archipelago are elevating levels of sea lice on wild juvenile pink and chum salmon. “Our results support the hypothesis that salmon farms are a major source of sea lice on juvenile wild salmon in multiple salmon farming regions in BC”, said lead author Michael Price, “and underscore the importance of minimizing known threats to vulnerable wild stocks”.

Levels of sea lice infecting wild juvenile pink and chum salmon were significantly higher near salmon farms in all salmon farm regions compared to areas away from farms, and lice levels were highest among the Discovery Islands where the largest amount of farm salmon was produced.

“The Discovery Islands is a region of high conservation concern given that 1/3 of BC’s juvenile salmon migrate through the region on route to the open ocean”, said co-author Alexandra Morton. “This includes Canada’s crown jewel of salmon systems, the Fraser River”.

Threats from salmon farms to wild salmon can be easily mitigated by removing farms from juvenile salmon migration routes, and switching to closed-containment aquaculture.

Evidence of farm-induced parasite infestations on wild juvenile salmon in multiple regions of coastal British Columbia, Canada. list of authors:

Michael H.H. Price1,2, Alexandra Morton3, John D. Reynolds4

1 Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W-3N5
2 Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sidney, BC, Canada V8L-3Y3
3 Salmon Coast Field Station, Simoom Sound, BC, Canada V0P-1S0
4 Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A-1S6

About Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Raincoast (www.raincoast.org) is a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by our research to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Raincoast is a not-for-profit research and public education organization. Our mandate: Investigate, Inform, Inspire. We employ a unique ‘informed advocacy’ approach that combines rigorous science, applied ethics, and grassroots activism.

About the Publisher

Canadian Science Publishing, a not-for-profit company (operating under the brand NRC Research Press http://nrcresearchpress.com), is the foremost scientific publisher in Canada and one of the most advanced electronic publishing services in the world. With over 50 highly skilled experts and an editorial staff comprising some of the world’s leading researchers, NRC Research Press (Canadian Science Publishing) communicates
scientific discoveries to over 100 countries, and publishes 15 journals, with more than 2000 manuscripts each year, in all scientific disciplines. All journals are available online full-text and are accessible before print publication.

Disclaimer

The authors of the study are not affiliated with or employed by the National Research Council of Canada. The views of the authors in no way reflect the opinions of the National Research Council of Canada. Requests for commentary about the contents of the study should be directed to the authors. The NRC Research Press is operating under the new name of Canadian Science Publishing, a not-for-profit company, and is no longer affiliated with the National Research Council Canada. Articles published by Canadian Science Publishing are peer-reviewed by experts in their field.

For more information contact:

Michael Price
Raincoast Conservation Foundation
mike@raincoast.org
(250-472-4068)

Alexandra Morton
Salmon Coast Field Station
(250-974-7086)

Entire ecosystems on the Pacific coast rely on salmon and humans are taking more than their share, a new study concludes…..

Read the full story by Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist

Link to the scientific paper in the journal Conservation Letters

Download the paper :Salmon for protected terrestrial areas.pdf

Download the paper: Darimont-etal-Salmon-for-Parks2010

Photo: grizzly bear captured on one of Raincoast’s remote cameras in the Great Bear Rainforest

Click here to view the story in the Victoria Times Colonist

Click here for the story in the Edmonton Journal

Download the pdf: Paquet and Darimont 2010 Wildlife Conservation & Animal Welfare

Abstract

Human activities deprive wild animals of their life requisites by destroying or impoverishing their surroundings, causing suffering of individuals. Yet, the notion that animal welfare applies to wildlife has escaped many animal welfarists and conservationists.  A well-accepted and applied ethical foundation for animal conservation that considers animal welfare is lacking. We address this by examining how worldviews of conservationists and animal welfarists are related. The clear conceptual link is that individuals within anthropogenically-disturbed populations often endure suffering caused by humans. Accordingly, our objectives are to provide an overview of wildlife conservation, integrate ethical aspects of wildlife conservation and animal welfare, and encourage a ‘wildlife welfare’ ethic among conservationists. We describe the relationship between contemporary socioeconomic and environmental conditions and the impoverished status of North American wildlife. We then describe the ecological plight of large mammalian carnivores in North America. Finally, as a case study, we focus on the tenuous lives of grey wolves (Canis lupus) living in the midst of human-dominated landscapes. We conclude that the suffering wildlife endures because of humans is a collective responsibility that presents a moral imperative for animal welfarists and conservationists alike. Habitat destruction and impoverishment deprives species of life requisites, causing trauma, prolonged suffering, and eventually death. We suggest that a shared doctrine of animal welfare principles is needed, such as a modified version of the internationally-recognised Five Freedoms. In essence, this would be an ethical affirmation for conservationists and animal welfarists.

Edmonton Journal, By Judith Lavoie

Animal-welfare rules that apply to animals in captivity like pets and farm animals should also apply to wildlife, says a newly published study by scientists from the Victoria-based Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

The peer-reviewed paper, published in the British scientific journal Animal Welfare, breaks new ground by suggesting wildlife researchers focus more on the welfare of animals than simply gathering information. The argument is boosted by remarkable images captured by remote cameras in the forests near Bella Bella.

The photos show bears, sitting, rolling and sticking their heads into a hole while wolves and cougars go about their daily business.

“These images give an insight into why everyone ought to think about reducing suffering in the wild,” said Raincoast research scientist Chris Darimont. “They show bears as unique, sensitive individuals.”

Most wildlife research is designed to help people, not animals, said Raincoast senior scientist Paul Paquet, who authored the study with Darimont.

“And that leads to all sorts of abuse,” he said, pointing to the tranquilizing of large carnivores for tests. “When we handle animals there’s a huge level of stress.

“We need an ethical framework to guide us in these decisions and we lack that,” said Paquet, professor in the faculty of environmental design at the University of Calgary.

Darimont said Raincoast, which does much of its coastal carnivore research on the Central Coast, has, for the last decade, tried to avoid invasive research.

“Whether it be picking up the poop of wolves or snagging the hair of bears, none of the work involves capturing, collaring or otherwise harassing,” he said.

The Raincoast study also looks at the effect of development and industrial expansion into wildlife habitat.

“As we destroy areas where animals live, it almost always guarantees slow death and suffering,” Paquet said, adding that there needs to be a “seismic change” in attitudes.

Enormous suffering is caused by human activities such as habitat destruction, hunting and food shortages, Darimont said.

Ultimately, Paquet said, the problem is caused by a growing human population that needs more and more space, at the expense of other species.

“The adverse environmental consequences of unrestrained human population growth and industrial development are not something we face in the future. They are with us now,” says the paper.

The study suggests that those working with wildlife should adopt an adapted version of the internationally recognized Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, used for captive animals.

It should include:

- Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition caused by humans.

- Freedom from discomfort due to environmental disruption caused by humans.

- Freedom from fear and distress caused by humans.

- Freedom from pain, injury and disease caused by humans.

- Freedom to express normal behaviour for the species.

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Wildlife+should+treated+better+study/3449527/story.html#ixzz0xvNnJ6w5

By Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist

Photographs by: Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

Animal-welfare rules that apply to animals in captivity like pets and farm animals should also apply to wildlife, says a newly published study by scientists from the Victoria -based Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

The peer-reviewed paper, published in the British scientific journal Animal Welfare, breaks new ground by suggesting wildlife researchers focus more on the welfare of animals than simply gathering information. The argument is boosted by remarkable images captured by remote cameras in the forests near Bella Bella.

The photos show bears, sitting, rolling and sticking their heads into a hole
while wolves and cougars go about their daily business.

“These images give an insight into why everyone ought to think about
reducing suffering in the wild,” said Raincoast research scientist Chris
Darimont. “They show bears as unique, sensitive individuals and no one could
ever reasonably dispute that they ought to be treated as we ourselves want
to be treated.

Most wildlife research is designed to help people, not animals, said
Raincoast senior scientist Paul Paquet, who authored the study with
Darimont. “And that leads to all sorts of abuse,” he said, pointing to the
tranquilizing of large carnivores for tests. “When we handle animals there’s
a huge level of stress.

“We need an ethical framework to guide us in these decisions and we lack
that,” said Paquet, professor in the faculty of environmental design at the
University of Calgary.

Darimont said Raincoast, which does much of its coastal carnivore research
on the Central Coast, has, for the last decade, tried to avoid invasive
research.

“Whether it be picking up the poop of wolves or snagging the hair of bears,
none of the work involves capturing, collaring or otherwise harassing,” he
said.

The Raincoast study also looks at the effect of development and industrial
expansion into wildlife habitat.

“As we destroy areas where animals live, it almost always guarantees slow
death and suffering,” Paquet said, adding that there needs to be a “seismic
change” in attitudes.

Enormous suffering is caused by human activities such as habitat
destruction, hunting and food shortages, Darimont said.

Ultimately, Paquet said, the problem is caused by a growing human population
that needs more and more space, at the expense of other species.

“The adverse environmental consequences of unrestrained human population
growth and industrial development are not something we face in the future.
They are with us now,” says the paper.

The study suggests that those working with wildlife should adopt an adapted
version of the internationally recognized Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare,
used for captive animals.

It should include:

• Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition caused by humans.

• Freedom from discomfort due to environmental disruption caused by humans.

• Freedom from fear and distress caused by humans.

• Freedom from pain, injury and disease caused by humans.

• Freedom to express normal behaviour for the species.

To see all 13 trail camera images visit the Victoria Times Colonist website:

Conservation research can lead to unexpected findings. Sometimes these surprises relate to our core questions while other times they belong in a science fiction film.  One of these findings occurred while we were studying diseases that might harm wildlife in coastal BC. Though not what we set out to study, these types of discoveries are part of what makes science fun.

Internal parasites of black-tailed deer are found in wolf scat.

Many of us have probably felt a moment of panic at the sight of a little garden slug on a forkful of fresh salad en route to our mouths.  Raincoast scientists together with researchers from the Universities of Saskatchewan and Uppsala have found that wolves may have a similar experience while dining on deer.   The research team first noticed the unusual worm larvae in wolf scat during a survey of parasites in wolves.  Genetic analysis identified the microscopic worms as a parasite common to deer, but not wolves.   The likely explanation for its presence in wolf scat is that the worms were consumed by a wolf feasting on an infected deer and then passed through the wolf’s digestive tract into the faeces.

This result, which has been published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, highlights the value of using genetic techniques to improve identification of parasites in scat.

Download the paper