Articles
May 4, 2017 / August 25, 2024 by Liz Ciocea
Do you know there is sixteen bat species in BC, eight of which are classed as vulnerable or threatened? BC also has the most diverse bat community, as there is only nineteen species in all of Canada. Bats are mammals and like us they are warm blooded, have hair; bear live young and feed their […]
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November 30, 2016 / August 25, 2024 by Liz Ciocea
One of the busiest times for GROWLS is seal pup season. On our coast seal pups are born from June to September with births peaking in July and August. Seal pups are coming. Very soon pregnant seal mothers will retire to rocky outcroppings off shore and “haul-out “ to give birth to a single seal […]
One of the best whale watching areas in North America is the British Columbia coast and frequent visitors in the waters around Gabriola are the Orca (orcinus orca). Commonly referred to as killer whales, Orcas are actually not whales but members of the Dolphin family and are the largest Dolphin in the world.Orcas are found […]
Gabriola is an island surrounded by a vibrant, powerful ocean. When the tide goes out another world is exposed to us, with some beautiful and unusual plants and animals. The Lewis’ Moon Snail euspira lewisii is a predator that inhabits soft silty sand or mud flats in protected bays and intertidal areas and lives at […]
In spring The Roughskin Newt “ Taricha granulosa” migrates from under logs, tree roots and vegetation of their winter homes in the forest to ponds and wetlands. The Taricha (a preserved mummy) granulosa (full of small grains) is getting ready for the breeding season. Like other amphibians they breathe through their skin so they are […]
One of the more dramatic native plants we will encounter as we walk through the woods, is the Vanilla Leaf (Achlys triphlla) Sometimes known as the Deer foot (as its leaves resemble the hoof print of the deer) this perennial pushes its way through the earth in March and heralds the coming of spring with […]
The Pacific Banana Slug ariolimax columbianus is one of three very large slugs found in BC. In fact the Banana slug seen here on Gabriola is the second largest slug in the world and is native to BC. This slug grows to over 20cm. It is identified by its grey or olive green colouring and […]
June 27, 2012 / August 25, 2024 by Jean Wyenberg
Dragonflies the largest member of the insect family in BC belong to the order of Odonata (Greek for toothed jaws), with over 80 species in our province. There are two distinct sub orders: Zygoptera (joined wings) are Damselflies which are slimmer, smaller and fly more slowly holding their winds above their bodies when resting and […]
December 1, 2011 / August 25, 2024 by Liz Ciocea
Graceful, arching woody stems can grow to 4m tall covered in an abundance of green foliage. The stems are golden-brown with twigs that zig zag here and there. Although hairless they do have scattered prickles. Deciduous deep green leaves are trifoliate with the middle leaflet larger than the 2 side leaflets. The leaf margins are […]
December 1, 2011 / August 25, 2024 by Jean Wyenberg
The Raven’s Tale. (Haida story) Long ago no divisions existed between humans, animals and spirits. All things of the earth, sky, and, water were connected, and all beings could pass freely between them. The Raven was a trickster full of supernatural power. He stole the sun from his grandfather, Nasshahkeeyalhl, and made the moon and […]
