Tag: species at risk

Species at Risk: Great Blue Heron fannini subspecies

Posted on January 27, 2026

Great Blue Heron. Photo by Lisa Wilcox

SARA Species of Special Concern
Life stage and activities observable in the fall: adults fishing and hunting at the edges of the ocean, lakes and ponds

Elegant and graceful are two words that perfectly characterize the Great Blue Heron. With their tall body, long legs, and “S” curved neck, these birds wade into the water effortlessly to fish and hunt for food during the fall. The Great Blue Heron has feathers of blue and grey, a long thick bill, and a white head and face. They can be found in estuaries, lakes, rivers, streams, beaches, and ponds. During the breeding season, they create large nests crafted with sticks, branches, and boughs high up in trees away from human disturbance.

The Great Blue Heron lives on a diet of primarily fish, but also enjoys frogs, insects, and rodents. Astonishingly, these birds can live for upwards of 17 years or more, and are known to gather in heronries, or colonies, of hundreds of birds that breed, fly, and feed together.

How to Help the Great Blue Heron

  • Whether you’re on your own property or recreating in the Islands Trust Area, avoid disrupting Great Blue Heron habitat and keep noise to a minimum in nesting areas. When visiting parks and open nature reserves, stay on authorized trails and keep your dog on leash and cleaned up after.
  • If you observe a Great Blue Heron, enjoy from a distance. Contribute your observations through iNaturalist, eBird, Merlin, or by sending an email to SAR@islandstrust.bc.ca.

Species at Risk: Western Screech-Owl

Posted on January 6, 2026

A Western Screech Owl pops its head out of its nest cavity in an arbutus tree. Photo credit Ren Ferguson.

SARA Threatened Species
Life stages observable in the winter: adult pairs courting in advance of breeding season

What’s that sound? It’s the Western Screech-Owl’s courtship calls echoing through the forest during the winter. With its small size and camouflage colours, you might just miss this owl if you’re not looking closely enough. The Western Screech-Owl has bright yellow eyes, a small beak, black eyebrows, and short “ear” feathers. Their feathers are white to pale grey with streaks of black and brown, which help them blend into the forest habitat they call home.

The Western Screech-Owl roosts and nests in tree trunks and tree cavities, as well as nest boxes. A nest box is a human-made enclosure specially-designed for a species to nest in. Nest boxes are important structures for Western Screech-Owls as natural habitat declines due to removal of suitable nest trees, deforestation, and development.

These owls can also be found in habitats close to wetlands, fields, and treed urban and suburban areas. Western Screech-Owl’s prey on small animals, including mice, birds, frogs, and insects.

How to Help the Western Screech-Owl

  • Protect roosts, perch sites, and nests for the Western Screech-Owl by preserving trees, alive and in all stages of decay, and particularly snags with cavities that provide perfect nest sites for these owls.

If you observe a Western Screech-Owl, enjoy from a distance. Contribute your observations through iNaturalist, eBird, Merlin, or by sending an email to SAR@islandstrust.bc.ca.

Species at Risk: Little Brown Myotis

Posted on August 19, 2025

Little Brown Myotis

SARA Endangered Species
Life stage and activities observable in the summer: adults in flight at dusk using sonar to catch flying insects

As dusk settles over the islands, you might just catch a glimpse of the Little Brown Myotis flying by! In forests, by fresh water, in grasslands, or open fields is where these small bats can be found, catching bugs as they fly through the air. The Little Brown Myotis has black ears, black wings, and a black tail. With a lifespan of more than 30 years, it is one of the most common bats across Canada.

These bats can teach us a lot about how to rest. As summer days breeze by, the Little Brown Myotis can be found resting in trees, cliffs, crevices, bat boxes, bridges, barns, and buildings for upwards of 20 hours a day! The Little Brown Myotis is a nocturnal species that feed on invertebrates such as moths, spiders, and beetles.

Unfortunately, populations of this bat have significantly declined throughout Canada due to the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a deadly fungal disease. WNS spreads most rapidly during the winter when bats are hibernating, affecting their skin and leading to dehydration, starvation, and death. As their habitat disappears due to deforestation and development, and bats are forced to hibernate together in fewer places, disease transmission of the WNS spores spreads more efficiently to uninfected bats.

How to Help the Little Brown Myotis

  • Avoid disrupting the Little Brown Myotis’ habitat, especially during roosting and hibernation. Never touch a bat – keep your distance and leave them alone!
  • If you find a dead bat, report it to the B.C. Community Bat Program online at bcbats.ca, via email at info@bcbats.ca or by calling 1-855-922-2287.
  • Contribute your observations of the Little Brown Myotis by sending an email to SAR@islandstrust.bc.ca.

Species at Risk: Northern Red-legged Frog

Posted on June 17, 2025

Northern Red-legged Frog

SARA Species of Special Concern
Life stage observable in the spring: egg-masses and tadpoles developing in ponds

The Northern Red-legged Frog, not to be mistaken with the Pacific Chorus Frog, is a quiet frog that prefers the comfort of its ground environment. These frogs are found in and around wetlands, ponds, streams, and lakes, as well as a diversity of forests. They have large legs and webbed feet for swimming, and mottled golden-brown skin that helps them blend in to their environment. Their common name is inspired by the pinkish hue on their legs.

Shortly after emerging from winter hibernation in the forest, these frogs migrate to watery habitat to reproduce, sometimes as early as February! As young frogs develop and mature throughout the spring, they feed on insects and other invertebrates found in the ecosystem around them.

How to Help the Northern Red-legged Frog

  • If you have a pond on your property, keep it clean! Avoid harmful products like pesticides and synthetic fertilizers that can impact ponds through run off.
  • Whether you’re on your own property or recreating in the Islands Trust Area, avoid disrupting Northern Red-legged Frog habitat including wetlands and the forest understory. When visiting parks and open nature reserves, stay on authorized trails and keep your dog on leash and cleaned up after.

If you observe a Northern Red-legged Frog, enjoy from a distance. Contribute your observations through iNaturalist, sending an email to SAR@islandstrust.bc.ca or through the BC Government Frogwatching site: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-conservation/amphibians-reptiles/frogwatching.