Pacific Wild

📢 Announcement! Join our FREE webinar on May 26: The Complex Lives of Wild Wolves 🌲🐺 In honour of Endangered Species Day, we’d like to shed light on the plight of wolves. Western Canada is one of the rare places in the world that still has packs of wild wolves roaming forests and coastlines, yet just south of the border wolves are listed as endangered in several American states. Ironically, wolves in western Canada are subject to largely unrestricted hunting, and are also being killed by the hundreds each year in the scientifically mis-guided attempt to restore populations of endangered woodland caribou. Around the world, wolves are wrongly feared, persecuted, and treated as vermin. In some places, they’ve been hunted to near extinction. But the reality is that wolves are highly intelligent, social animals with complex inner lives and family dynamics, and they play an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy. Join us May 26 for a live discussion about the lives of wild wolves, and why killing wolves is based on deeply flawed scientific and ethical arguments. Listen in on the conversation between distinguished animal behaviourist Dr. Marc Bekoff and Pacific Wild co-founder Ian McAllister as they discuss: 🐺Stories from the field 🐺Science behind wolf sentience and emotional intelligence 🐺Ethical dimensions of lethal wildlife management 🐺Ecologically grounded solutions 🗓️ May 26 | ⏰ 5:30pm PT 📍 Virtual Event on Zoom 💲Free, registration required 🌲 Hosted by Pacific Wild Wildlife & Forest Campaigner Dr. Kristen Weiss 🔗 Register at the link in our bio If you can’t join us live, a recording will be available! #SaveBCWolves #Wolves #Wolf #WildlifeManagement #WildlifeConservation #EndangeredSpecies #EndangeredSpeciesDay

🌲🪓 A nearly thousand-year-old western hemlock has been found in the Upper Tsitika valley — and it faces the chopping block. This ancient hemlock, measuring nearly 2 meters across, was originally discovered by our team last year in cutblock TA 1375 in the upper Tsitika Valley, which BC Timber Services recently auctioned off for logging. At the time we thought the tree might be as old as 800 years, enough to warrant legacy tree status. Recently, Registered Forest Technologist Greg Herringer returned to collect a core sample from the tree to obtain an accurate age. It turns out that this ancient hemlock is 921 years old! The tree is healthy and could easily thrive past 1,000 years old — yet its life is threatened by clear-cut logging for short-term human profit. To put this into context, the oldest intact building in Canada, the Maison LeBer-LeMoyne in Montreal, was built in 1669 and has therefore only existed for 357 years, a little over a third of the lifespan of this tree. This small stone house is listed as a National Historic Site, yet the ancient hemlock could be felled for pulp tomorrow. This hemlock has stood as a silent witness to hundreds of years of colonization, disease and destruction on Turtle Island. Will it survive long enough to see a return to sustainable, holistic forest management? Cutblock TA1375 contains many other ancient cedars and hemlocks like this one, in addition to at-risk species like marbled murrelets and oldgrowth specklebelly lichen, bear dens, and other important ecological values. This forest is a library of life. BCTS has ignored logging opposition from scientists, community members, and multiple First Nations people whose territories overlap with the Tsitika watershed. Flood the mailboxes and phone lines of Premier Eby, Forest Ministry Parmar, Environment & Parks Minister Davidson, and provincial decision makers to demand this rare ancient forest be protected. Join us in demanding an end to logging B.C.’s old-growth and primary forests. #SaveBCAncientForests #OldGrowthForest #SaveBCTrees @intheshadowofgiants1 @joshuawrightfilm @fairycreekblockade @dr.rachelholt @sierraclubbc

🪼 Ocean Week Victoria is almost here, and this year there’s an EXTRA weekend of ocean-inspired events, activities, and community fun! Come connect with the team at Pacific Wild throughout Ocean Week to learn about our marine campaigns, explore interactive displays, and celebrate the incredible ecosystems of the coast with us. Here’s where you can find us: 🌊 The Gorge Splashtacular Ocean Festival 🗓️ May 30 | ⏰ 12–4 PM 📍 Gorge Waterway Nature House 💲Free, no registration required 💙 Hosted by @seaquaria_ocean_education and @gorgewaterwaynaturehouse 🌊 World Ocean Day at Fisherman’s Wharf 🗓️ May 31 | ⏰ 11 AM–4 PM 📍 Fisherman’s Wharf 💲Free, no registration required 💙 Hosted by @eaglewingtours and @vicharbour 🌊 Ocean Opportunities Fair 🗓️ June 3 | ⏰ 4–7 PM 📍 3170 Tillicum Rd, Victoria 💲Free, no registration required 💙Hosted by @gorgewaterwaynaturehouse 🌊 Film screening: Ocean with David Attenborough 🗓️ June 4 | ⏰ 6–9:15 PM 📍 Vic Theatre 💲Free, registration required (🔗 in bio), 19+ 💙 Hosted by Pacific Wild! Special thanks to @ReviveOurOcean , co-producer of the film, for facilitating access as well as @silverback_films @natgeo and @openplanetorg 🌊 World Ocean Day Festival at Beacon Park 🗓️ June 7 | ⏰ 11 AM–3 PM 📍 Sidney, BC 💲Free, no registration required 💙Hosted by the @salishseacentre 🌊 Marine Ecology Exploration by Paddleboard 🗓️ May 30 | June 7 | June 8 ⏰ 9 AM-10:30 AM | 10 AM-11:30 AM | 5 PM-6:30 PM 📍 Gonzales Bay 💲By donation, registration required 💙Hosted by @mertalesoceanjourneys , @southislandsup and Pacific Wild’s Marine Specialist! ⁉️ Want to explore even more events happening around the city? Check out the @oceanweekvictoria 2026 calendar (🔗 in bio). Not in Victoria? Visit @oceanweek_canada to find events happening across the country! #OceanFilm #OceanWithDavidAttenborough #ReviveOurOcean #OceanWeekVictoria #OceanWeekCanada

⚠️ Government Transparency Alert! The B.C. government is considering changes to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act that could reduce government accountability to the public. These changes, listed in Bill 9, may directly threaten our ability to hold the province accountable on critical issues like the taxpayer-funded wolf cull and decisions around logging ancient forests. FOI requests are one of our most powerful tools for exposing what the government does behind closed doors. In our investigation into the wolf cull, we've already faced delayed responses, missing documents, and files returned with entire sections heavily redacted. Bill 9 could make this worse. The bill expands the grounds on which government bodies can ignore FOI requests entirely — including if responding would "interfere with operations." It also weakens the duty to respond promptly. Democracy Watch calls it "a step backwards" that increases "the power of government officials to reject and delay" public information requests. Less transparency means less accountability on issues that matter: the wolf cull, old-growth logging, and on every other decision being made on behalf of all British Columbians. 📣 The bill has passed second reading. Time is running out! Contact your MLA, as well as Minister of Citizen Services Diana Gibson and Premier Eby, and urge them to oppose Bill 9. Share this post. Demand transparency. #Bill9 #GovernmentAccountability #SaveBCWildlife

⛴️ Bottom trawling has long been framed as an economic necessity, but what happens when you account for the full cost? 📈 New research by Millage et al. takes a deeper look at Europe’s trawl industry, factoring in carbon emissions, subsidies, and bycatch. The result is hard to ignore: up to €16 billion in societal costs each year, around 90× higher than the industry’s net profit. While the sector generates revenue, jobs, and food, those benefits are outweighed by: ⚠️ Massive carbon releases from disturbed seabeds ⚠️ Billions in public subsidies ⚠️ Widespread bycatch and waste ⚠️ Ongoing trawling in over half of Europe’s marine protected areas Here in British Columbia, bottom trawling raises many of the same concerns, from bycatch and habitat damage to impacts on irreplaceable ecosystems like glass sponge reefs. Despite this, the practice still occurs in many Marine Protected Areas. 👉 When we shift from private profit to public cost, the picture changes. What does a truly sustainable fishery look like, and who should bear the real cost? #InDeepTrouble #CommercialFishing #SustainableFisheries #ResearchFeature #BottomTrawling

💐This Mother's Day, send a little animal sweetness to the special mother figures in your life with a Pacific Wild E-Card. 💚Minimum donation is just $5, and every dollar supports wildlife and habitat conservation in British Columbia. 📨 Your card will be sent immediately after completing the dedication—no postage, no waste, just pure love. Link in bio 🔗 🥰 Thank you for honouring the moms in your life with a gift that gives back to the wild places and creatures we all cherish. 📷 @iantmcallister #ECards #MothersDay #MothersDayCard #Wildlife #CuteAnimals #WildlifePhotography

🌊 “After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.” — Sir David Attenborough Today, on David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, we’re celebrating a lifetime of inspiring wonder, curiosity, and action for our planet. 🎬 Join us for a special screening of the film "Ocean with David Attenborough" as part of @oceanweekvictoria . This powerful and award-winning documentary explores the beauty, fragility, and resilience of our ocean, and reminds us that protecting it is still possible. Following the film, stay for a panel discussion and audience Q&A with speakers from @georgiastraitbc , Pacific Wild, and more as we dive into the impacts of bottom trawling and the future of marine protection in British Columbia. 📍 The Vic Theatre 🗓️ Thursday, June 4 ⏰ 6:00–9:15 PM 🎟️ Free event | 19+ | Registration required | Link in bio 🌊 Capacity is limited, reserve your spot early! Special thanks to @ReviveOurOcean , co-producer of the film, for facilitating access as well as @silverback_films @natgeo and @openplanetorg #OceanFilm #OceanWithDavidAttenborough #ReviveOurOcean #OceanWeekVictoria #OceanWeekCanada

❓Guess how old these fish are! Some of the most familiar fish along B..C’s coast can live for decades, longer than many people expect. 🐟The oldest rockfish recorded in B.C. is the Rougheye rockfish, which has been known to live up to 147 years old. To really appreciate that, a rockfish that age today would have been born in the late 1800s, and could have quietly lived through an astonishing stretch of human history including the rise of steamships, then diesel-powered ships along the coast. 🧡Copper rockfish are beautifully mottled in orange, copper, and brown tones and are commonly found around rocky reefs and kelp forests. These fish are incredibly long-lived, with individuals reaching over 90 years old in some cases. That means a copper rockfish born before World War II could still be swimming today! 🖤Black rockfish are schooling fish often seen in large groups near offshore reefs and pinnacles. They’re typically dark grey to black in colour and are also long-lived, commonly reaching 50–60 years of age, with some living even longer under the right conditions. ⏰ Rockfish are slow-growing and slow to reproduce, which makes them especially vulnerable to overfishing. In B.C., rockfish are among the species that can be both incidentally caught as well as targeted by commercial trawl fisheries. Because they live so long and mature later in life, their populations can take many years to recover if impacted. These remarkable fish are a reminder of how ancient and delicate our coastal ecosystems are, and why responsible fishing and marine protection are so important. 👇Comment below if you can identify the rockfish in this video! 🎥 @iantmcallister #DraggedToDeath #InDeepTrouble #SustainableFisheries #RockFish MarineProtection

⛴️ Three seasons of enhanced monitoring in B.C.’s groundfish trawl fishery are giving us a clearer picture of what’s really happening beneath the surface. Salmon bycatch has dropped by roughly 73% over the past three fishing seasons, and the new Chinook bycatch cap is an important step toward stronger accountability and precautionary fisheries management. 📉But the data also show that reduced bycatch is closely tied to reduced fishing effort, especially in midwater trawl fisheries, where most salmon bycatch occurs. This tells us something important: conservation gains depend not just on caps, but on reducing pressure where the risk is highest. If we want lasting protection for salmon, bycatch reduction must be built into how the fishery operates, not left to changing effort levels alone. 🐟 More broadly, many jurisdictions around the world are moving toward banning trawling altogether. Ultimately, that is the direction Pacific Wild supports, given that indiscriminate fishing methods are inherently problematic. In the interim, however, there are still important steps that can be taken to reduce harm. Pacific herring, a foundation species in B.C.’s marine ecosystems, likely remain underrepresented in bycatch reporting. Enhanced monitoring for herring is the next critical step toward protecting biodiversity and managing fisheries within ecological limits. Because protecting ocean ecosystems starts with measuring what we remove, and taking responsibility for it. 🔗 Read the full blog — link in bio 📣 Urge Fisheries and Oceans Canada to implement stronger monitoring for Pacific herring — add your voice today #DraggedToDeath #InDeepTrouble #CommercialFishing #SustainableFisheries #PacificSalmon #ChinookSalmon #PacificHerring

🚨 Another herring fishery opens today in the Strait of Georgia. This fishery has the catchy name “The Special Use fishery” and is divided into five licence categories for different uses and products, including personal use, sport bait, commercial bait, domestic food and bait, and zoo or aquarium use. 🐟 Most of the headlines around Pacific herring focus on the short spring roe fishery, but that’s only part of the story. Herring fishing in the Strait of Georgia is far from a brief, seasonal event. 📅 The Special Use herring fishery is set to open from May 1 through November 6, 2026, spanning over six months of the year. Then a few weeks later in November, the next herring season will start, and the Food and Bait fishery will begin. The Food and Bait fishery often sells its catch to tuna-farms in Australia, or to aquariums as feed for captive animals, and it usually spans from late November to late January. The Food and Bait fishery usually only closes a few weeks before the spring herring roe fishery opens, which sells the roe from female herring to overseas markets before they have a chance to spawn. 🐋 Herring in the Strait of Georgia face fishing pressure in nearly every season, not just during the short roe opening that gets the most attention. If we care about the health of this ecosystem, and the salmon, whales, seabirds, and humans that depend on herring, we need to look at the full picture. Because it’s not just a few days of fishing. It’s a year-round story. 🎥 @iantmcallister #ProtectPacificHerring #PacificHerring #Herring #SustainableFisheries #SalishSea

🐺 In winter 2024–25, the B.C. government killed 351 wolves and six cougars across 15 caribou herd ranges. This “short-term measure” has now continued for a decade, despite the Province’s own reports identifying human-caused habitat disturbance as the underlying driver of caribou decline. Our wolf resource list has been updated with new government reports and scientific studies on B.C.’s wolf cull, caribou recovery, habitat restoration, and predator-prey dynamics. The 2026 update includes: 📄 New government reports on recent predator reduction numbers, provincial wolf population estimates, and caribou recovery planning. 🔬 Scientific research on: 🐾 caribou calf survival during wolf reduction programs, 🦌 deer expansion after mild winters, 🐴 feral horses as prey for wolves and cougars, 🪲 mountain pine beetle impacts on caribou habitat, and 🌲 the role of habitat restoration in climate mitigation. The science remains clear: recovery depends on protecting and restoring the old-growth forests caribou need to survive. Killing wolves does not fix habitat destruction. 👉 Dive deeper into the science of wolves and the complexities of wildlife management in our newly updated resource list at the link in our bio. 🎥 courtesy of @iantmcallister #SaveBCWolves #Wolves #Wolf #Ungulate #Deer #Caribou #WildlifeManagement #WildlifeConservation

From the Tsitika Valley to forests across B.C., recent reporting reveals a troubling pattern: decisions are being made behind closed doors, while some of the last intact forest ecosystems hang in the balance. Meanwhile, only a tiny fraction of B.C.’s most ancient, primary forests remain—and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. Swipe to see what’s making headlines ➡️ 🪵 A recent analysis warns the province must stop shifting responsibility onto First Nations while continuing to approve old-growth logging in their territories—highlighting deeper systemic failures in forest governance. (The Tyee – Analysis) 🪵 In a quiet move, a high-risk old-growth area was removed from B.C.’s deferral list, raising serious concerns about transparency and the future of forests like Tsitika. (The Tyee – News) 🪵 Washington State is an example of how stronger protections and policy shifts can reduce old-growth logging, raising the question of why B.C. isn’t following a similar path. (Watershed Sentinel) 🪵 Advocates are sounding the alarm over proposed legislative changes that could increase B.C. logging and weaken protections, putting remaining old growth at even greater risk. (Victoria Buzz) This isn’t just about one valley. It’s about the future of what little ancient forests we have left. As Joshua Wright wrote in the Watershed Sentinel, “Old-growth logging is going to come to an end one way or another. The only real question is: Will BC have any old-growth forests left when that happens?” Share this news with your communities and keep the pressure on B.C.. Forest Minister Ravi Parmar @rparmarbc and Premier David Eby @davidebybc to follow through on their promise to protect ancient forests. Check out our press release about the Tsitika linked in our bio for more info. 🔗 #SaveBCOldGrowth #SaveAncientForests #SustainableForestry #ProtectOldGrowth #TsitikaValley