Inform | Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Problem humans and the ecology of bear-human conflict

A black bear turns their head a little while sitting down comfortably.

Published on 2019.12.13 | by Kyle Artelle, PhD | in Inform

Last month, in Penticton, BC a group of five black bears – three males and two younger females – had been spotted feasting on residents’ garbage. Conservation authorities were called in, and the five bears were shot dead. This came just a week after six bears were shot in over a three day period near […]

Collaborating with the next generation

Tyler Jessen helps some young Salish Sea Emerging Stewards on campus to examine a remote sensing device.

Published on 2019.11.12 | by Maureen Vo, Education and Development Coordinator | in Inform

As I walk onto campus at the University of Victoria, I am surrounded by the hustle and bustle of students scurrying off to their classes. For the students, their familiarity with the area makes their travel effortless as they weave and bob through the buildings and walkways. As a visitor, the school is a giant […]

The Fraser River estuary is fragmented by structures that alter the flow of water

Salmon fry pool in the estuaries of the Fraser River.

Published on 2019.06.21 | by Alex Harris, Communications Associate | in Inform

The first phase in Raincoast’s five-year restoration project in the Fraser estuary was making breaches in the Steveston jetty to allow young salmon access to Sturgeon Bank, a safe, marshy habitat that gives them an easier transition from river to ocean…

From meerkats to killer whales

A family of meerkats stand together watching, while a young member opens their mouth and shows their tongue.

Published on 2018.10.02 | by Andrew W. Bateman, Raincoast Research Scientist | in Inform

For animal species that form social groups, living together can have a strong effect on individuals’ chances of survival and reproduction, and ultimately on how population sizes change over time. New work, led by myself in collaboration with a team of researchers from Canada, the UK, and Switzerland, combines theory and data to shed light […]

Protecting (marine) subsidies – nutrient flows from ocean to land

Waters of the Great Bear Rainforest turn a milky turquoise with Pacific herring during spawning.

Published on 2018.05.29 | by Kristen Walters, Lower Fraser River Salmon Conservation Program Coordinator | in Inform

Researchers at Raincoast aimed to determine if the nutrients that herring contribute to intertidal and subtidal ecosystems during spawning events are cycling through coastal food webs. To determine this, our scientists adopted techniques used in salmon research ….

Oil tankers: a killer for whales

Southern Resident killer whale mother and juvenile.

Published on 2018.05.26 | by Chris Genovali, Misty MacDuffee & Paul Paquet | in Inform

The National Energy Board recommended approval of the Trans Mountain expansion knowing the Kinder Morgan project would jeopardize the survival of the Southern Residents…

Confronting the elephant (head) in the room – researchers challenge the conservation community on the ethics of trophy hunting

A grizzly bear meanders in the Great Bear rainforest.

Published on 2018.05.16 | by Chris Darimont, Raincoast Director of Science | in Inform

Writing in the scientific journal, Conservation Letters, an international team of conservation scientists is challenging the conservation community to fully consider the ethics of trophy hunting and think critically about endorsing the practice as a key funding mechanism for wildlife protection. Read our new paper, “The elephant (head) in the room: A critical look at trophy […]

On the hunt for science in ‘science-based’ hunts

A bear stands in the distant grass and fog to get a better look or maybe smell.

Published on 2018.05.14 | by Kyle Artelle, PhD | in Inform

For years, British Columbia’s wildlife management practices, especially its wolf cull and grizzly bear hunt, have been controversial. In 2015, then-Premier Christy Clark defended the province’s wildlife policies, stating they were grounded in sound science. That, at least, was the claim. And not one unique to British Columbia. In fact, hunting in Canada and the […]