Articles

Harbour Seals (pinnipeds) are resident to B.C. waters year – round. They are found from Alaska to California but do not migrate and tend to stay in the area where they were born. Rocky outcroppings or beaches known as “haul-outs” …

Photos by Jason Beukens (Entrance Island Lighthouse Keeper)
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Two species of sea lions occur in British Columbia waters, the Steller’s and California sea lion. They belong to the family Otariidae or …

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), is the only eagle that is unique to North America. The scientific name signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. At one time, the word "bald" meant "white," not hairless. …

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Raccoons are among the most frequently encountered wildlife we see on Gabriola. The word raccoon is derived from the Algonquain name for this animal, “aroughcoune” which means “he scratches with his …

by Jean Wyenberg
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Well that is enough to give some people shivers - but really our snakes are very nice, friendly, non threatening and even beneficial.

On Gabriola Island we only …

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Back in November of 2008 we told you the story of Geneva, a seal pup rescued on Gabriola Island, who had quite a dramatic start to life. At that time the …

The Western Skunk Cabbage lysichiton americanum is found in many areas of Gabriola where there are streams, wet ditches, swamps, moist forests and mucky seepage spots. One of the few native species belonging to the Arum family it flowers in …

The Beaver Caster Canadensis is an impressive and industrious mammal belonging to the rodent family. (The Capybara of South America is the only rodent larger than the Beaver.) The fur trade and the demand for beaver pelts opened up this …

[imageeffect type="lightbox" align="alignleft" width="250" height="188" alt="Muskrat-Photograph by Brian Hoag" url="/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/muskrat-ramble-01.jpg" titleoverlay="yes"]The Common Muskrat ondatra zibethicus is another interesting mammal found on Gabriola and right across North America. Originally called” Moskwas “or” Musquash “by the Abnaki First Nations because of a …

Wetlands are one of the most important life support systems on the planet comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. Once considered worthless, wetlands were drained, filled, eliminated all together because it was thought they were disease filled, stinky, insect …