Articles
December 1, 2011 / August 25, 2024 by Liz Ciocea
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” are where seals rest and give birth. Harbour seals have a spindle shaped body, a […]
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Photos by Jason Beukens (Entrance Island Lighthouse Keeper) (click on the images below for a larger version) Two species of sea lions occur in British Columbia waters, the Steller’s and California sea lion. They belong to the family Otariidae or eared seals. Graceful swimmers, they are equally comfortable ambling over land using their front and […]
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. Bald eagles are found over most of North America, from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico. […]
(click on the image below for a larger version) 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 hands” . The scientific name is “Procyon lotor” translated as Procyon “before dog” and “lotor” […]
December 1, 2011 / August 25, 2024 by Jean Wyenberg
by Jean Wyenberg (click on the image below for a larger version) 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 have two kinds of snakes – the Sharp-tailed Snake and the Common Garter Snake. The […]
(click on the image below for a larger version) 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 little seal pup had just come back to the Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre on […]
October 1, 2010 / August 25, 2024 by Liz Ciocea
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 early spring and is now highly visible because of its brilliant yellow hood (spathe), flower […]
September 12, 2009 / August 25, 2024 by Liz Ciocea
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 vast country and the Hudson’s Bay Company was established in the 17th century. No other […]
September 9, 2009 / August 25, 2024 by Liz Ciocea
[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 musk-like discharge released during breeding season as means of marking territory or to communicate with […]
September 1, 2009 / August 25, 2024 by Liz Ciocea
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 infested, and polluted. Urban development, population expansion, agriculture, also figured in to the destruction of […]
