Areas of Research

 

WILD ANIMALS

The province of British Columbia is known for its natural beauty and for its wildlife. The variety of ecosystems that exist within the province are home to many species of wildlife including grizzly bears, migratory birds and multiple marine mammal species. Human activities often have profound if unintended effects on these animals, and these impacts are an important area of concern to many British Columbians.

Due to limited resources, the Animal Welfare Program has only been able to take on projects in this area under exceptional circumstances; however, developing resources to allow more leadership in this area is an important goal for the Program's future.

 

 

WILDLIFE RESEARCH PROJECTS


Marine Mammal Welfare

Mallard Duckling Care and Survival at Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers

Wildlife Rehabilitator's Activities and the Extent of Rehabilitation in British Columbia

Grizzly Bear Response to the Presence and Approach of Human Observers

Provincial Sport Fishing Regulations

 

Marine Mammal Welfare


Current research projects, involving several species of pinnipeds, encompass the areas of rescue and rehabilitation and wildlife marking techniques.

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Mallard Duckling Care and Survival at Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers


Mallard ducklings are commonly admitted into wildlife rehabilitation facilities in the province during the spring and summer months. Generally these birds are described as “orphans” having been found without the hen mallard. Unfortunately, many ducklings die shortly after admission.

This project investigated pre-admission treatment and traits that impacted duckling survival after admission and t ested the effectiveness of providing older “mentor” ducklings to novice broods as a means of reducing deaths in care. Birds that were kept by their finder for more than 5 hours were twice as likely to die as those brought in more rapidly. Lighter birds and smaller broods also fared worse than their counterparts. This information can be used by rehabilitators to identify and provide special care to “at risk” birds.

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Wildlife Rehabilitator's Activities and the Extent of Rehabilitation in British Columbia


Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to gather data about wildlife rehabilitator's activities and the extent of rehabilitation in British Columbia. Interview responses from individuals representing rehabilitation, veterinary medicine and provincial and federal government bodies described a range of views and experiences of individuals involved in rehabilitation activities.

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Grizzly Bear Response to the Presence and Approach of Human Observers


Reactions of grizzly bears in the K'tzim-a-deen (Khutzeymateen) Grizzly Bear Sanctuary to the presence and approach of human observer were studied to determine how tourism should be regulated to avoid displacing or disturbing the bears. The work found that the current level of tourism at the park does not have a significant effect on bear behaviour and therefore can be deemed acceptable from an animal welfare perspective.

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Provincial Sport Fishing Regulations


In response to a request from the Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada (AWF), we prepared a review of provincial sport fishing regulations across Canada to determine whether earlier recommendations by the AWF to reduce pain and stress in fish had been implemented and to recommend further changes.

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