British Columbia · North Pacific
British Columbia · stories
Read recent published observations from British Columbia. Each entry keeps its original source attribution and a link back to the archive.
MERS reported a very young harbour seal pup first seen without its mother at Telegraph Cove. The pup was monitored and collected the next day for treatment in Vancouver, where the rescue centre called it Friday Island.
Source: Marine Education & Research Society (MERS)
16 June 2023 2023 · Vancouver IslandA passerby spotted a harbour seal pup at Blackie Spit Park. The Marine Mammal Rescue team found the pup weak and transported it for care. The rescue centre named the pup Timbit.
Source: Denise Wong / CityNews Vancouver, reporting Vancouver Aquarium
22 May 2022 2022 · Metro VancouverA member of the public first noticed a thin, lethargic young male Steller sea lion on the beach. Responders rescued him the following day and named him Sea Lionel Richie. He later died in care on 10 February.
Source: Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre
4 February 2022 2022 · Vancouver IslandCourtney Edwards documented the birth of an elephant seal pup named Hector at about 10 a.m. His mother, called Jolene in the account, had arrived a week earlier.
Source: Courtney Edwards / Race Rocks Ecoguardians Log
28 January 2021 2021 · Race RocksNick Townley watched three elephant seal pups swimming beside the boat ramp that morning; the same pups had also swum there the previous day.
Source: Nick Townley / Race Rocks Ecoguardians Log
21 March 2020 2020 · Race RocksLaas Parnell recorded 13 elephant seals at Race Rocks. The log noted that only one had moulted and that the male pup called Nemo remained at the reserve.
Source: Laas Parnell — Race Rocks Ecoguardians Log
15 April 2019 2019 · Vancouver IslandRescuers found a young female harbour seal on a Kitsilano beach with injuries from birdshot. The team named her Jessica Seal. The wounds were already healing, so the discovery date does not establish when the shooting occurred.
Source: Eric Zimmer — Daily Hive; Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre
18 February 2019 2019 · Metro VancouverSalmon-farm employees near Johnstone Strait spotted a northern fur seal pup floating on its side and unable to dive. The pup, later named Mo, was rescued and flown to Vancouver for treatment.
Source: The Canadian Press; Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre
28 January 2019 2019 · Vancouver IslandVancouver Island Whale Watch reported an elephant seal on its 28 September outing. A photograph credited to guest Martina Rehfeldt places the seal around Nanaimo. The account does not give a more precise location.
Source: Vancouver Island Whale Watch; photograph by Martina Rehfeldt
28 September 2018 2018 · Vancouver IslandA small premature male seal pup was observed alone on Anvil Island throughout the day before being rescued. The aquarium team named him Emerald. He was transported via Porteau Cove for treatment.
Source: Daily Hive Vancouver staff; Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre
23 May 2018 2018 · Howe SoundAn adult male California sea lion was found on Spanish Banks beach in poor condition. The rescue team named him Señor Cinco. A later veterinary examination found gunshot injuries that were already weeks old.
Source: The Canadian Press; Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre
5 May 2017 2017 · Metro VancouverRiley Strother recorded 14 elephant seals on Great Race and two on Middle Rock. Two animals called Chunk and Chuckles sparred in the water for more than an hour. A tagged female was also still present.
Source: Riley Strother — Race Rocks Ecoguardians Log
31 May 2016 2016 · Vancouver Island