Chris Darimont is the director of science at Raincoast, and the lead scientist at the Raincoast Applied Conservation Science Lab at the University of Victoria. His work is in biology, evolution and ecology. You can find him on the coast, and sometimes in the waves, somewhere between San Diego and Haida Gwaii.
As the field season draws to a close, I finally have the time to reflect on some of our experiences. As it appears, somebody else is doing some reflection. We are pulling some of our remote cameras and inspecting the images of bears at our non-invasive hair-snagging stations.
Ever been thrilled with lots of traffic during your morning commute? We were yesterday. Heading up a nearby channel to hit our bear hair-snagging stations, we encountered a herd of about 75 Pacific White Sided Dolphins. We maintained our course and speed and they chose to come play with us.
I think about the future of this precious coast much more often now. This is because I am now invested in it like never before; my partner and I have brought a little girl into this world two months ago. She’s in Bella Bella with me during field work. She’s had her first boat rides,…
Last week we had a howling southeast rip through. Good timing.
I know I promised the picture of the momma bear and cubs I wrote about yesterday, but the satellite internet being what it is up here, that will have to wait. In the meantime, I’d like to introduce you to this year’s crew: From left to right: Me, Howard Humchitt, Collin Reid, Kyle Artelle, Heather…
I promised you a story about bears…it’s coming. First I want to share with you one of the less mammalian experiences that treat our team up at the field station each year. Almost daily we observe Harold the (Great Blue) Heron, who includes our dock in his territory. Great fish habitat for this piscivore (fish…
We promised a picture of Doug’s birthday Orcas…here they are! One male and one female. Photo ID records helped us identify them as known individuals in the transient (marine mammal-eating) population. They stuck around the field station for about half an hour before zooming down Lama Pass towards Hunter Island. Wolfman Doug and crew was…
Our first ‘real’ blog post from the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest! Perhaps you are expecting tales of bears, wolves, or salmon. Well, after three days of fieldwork, we have not yet seen any charismatic wildlife (except a nice spike buck in velvet). And we have heard that locals have been catching some salmon,…
More notes, more ideas, more reflections. More action. The Raincoast Conservation Foundation has been at the fore front of science and research on the coast of British Columbia for a number of years. We publish peer reviewed papers, we develop reports, we host conferences. We also have a talent for getting press, we produce a…
Our spring field season has arrived and is led by Dr. Chris Darimont, Raincoast Director of Science by Chris Darimont Possessing only a rudimentary knowledge of gravity, delicate little claws for braking, and pure trust in their momma, brand new grizzly cubs are slip-sliding their way down snowfields this month as they emerge from their…
By Chris Darimont Research Scientist, Rainforest Wolf Program Tanzania, December 2008 Guttural roars and the cracking of bone drown out any sound of the river, which by this time of year has slowed to a mere trickle. On its banks, blood-soaked muzzles plunge into fallen prey as if it were their final meal.
I needed a renewal. Spring had sprung some time ago and I was envious of the plants outside my office window that seemed a lot more active than I. After a long winter of computer work, it was time again to visit the wolves and the forests that had changed my life forever.