Nature

This photo provided by Daniela C. Roessler in August 2022 shows a jumping spider (E. arcuata) exhibiting leg curling during a REM sleep-like state. A study published on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, suggests that jumping spiders show signs of sleep cycles, similar to humans and some animals. (Daniela C. Roessler via AP)

Do spiders sleep? Study suggests they may snooze like humans

Biologist: ’It was just the most unusual thing I’ve ever seen’

 

The Morkin property in Southern Alberta. (Brent Calver/Nature Conservancy of Canada)

Fill your pack with snacks, scientists need to know how neat B.C. nature is

The BioBlitz, through the iNaturalist app, runs from July 28-Aug. 1

 

An insect resembling a muted butterfly with feather-like antenna rests on a Saanich apartment building. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Pretty as a picture, these moths are native to Greater Victoria

Tropical cousin, giant atlas moth, lives at Victoria Butterfly Gardens

 

This long exposure image shows the eruption of volcano Sakurajima Sunday night, July 24, 2022, in the view from Tarumizu city, Japan’s southern prefecture of Kagoshima. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said a volcano on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu erupted Sunday night, spewing ash and volcanic rocks, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s Sakurajima volcano erupts, triggering evacuation

No immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns

This long exposure image shows the eruption of volcano Sakurajima Sunday night, July 24, 2022, in the view from Tarumizu city, Japan’s southern prefecture of Kagoshima. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said a volcano on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu erupted Sunday night, spewing ash and volcanic rocks, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in nearby towns. (Kyodo News via AP)
Saanich experienced a significant increase in park usage due in part to the district’s Natural Intelligence campaign. (Black Press media file photo)

Saanich parks featured for a first time in Canadian City Parks report

Municipality’s Natural Intelligence program noted for increasing park use

Saanich experienced a significant increase in park usage due in part to the district’s Natural Intelligence campaign. (Black Press media file photo)
A roughly 15-metre oak tree, pictured here along the 800-block of Oliver Street, toppled on the rainy evening of Thursday, June 9, and took residential power lines and clear access along this pathway from St. Patrick Street with it. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Fallen 50-foot Oak Bay oak tree downs residential electric line, impedes path

Oak didn’t disturb circuit breaker, still impedes path to St. Patrick Street

A roughly 15-metre oak tree, pictured here along the 800-block of Oliver Street, toppled on the rainy evening of Thursday, June 9, and took residential power lines and clear access along this pathway from St. Patrick Street with it. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Western tent caterpillars in a cluster at the tip of a branch at ground level. The silky tents are often found high in trees, where the direct sunlight warms up the larvae. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Tent caterpillar season in Greater Victoria sees gardeners fight for their foliage

Manual removal method the easiest, but targeted natural insecticides available

Western tent caterpillars in a cluster at the tip of a branch at ground level. The silky tents are often found high in trees, where the direct sunlight warms up the larvae. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Russell Nursery in North Saanich is celebrating its 30th year in business. Co-owner Laurel Rassenti is preparing for blossoming gardeners when the weather gets a little warmer. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)

Weather slows early gardening season but boom expected across Greater Victoria

Warmer weather will bring the green thumbs out of hibernation, businesses predict

Russell Nursery in North Saanich is celebrating its 30th year in business. Co-owner Laurel Rassenti is preparing for blossoming gardeners when the weather gets a little warmer. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)
A bee searches for pollen on a flower during a sunny spring day in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, April 8, 2022. A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 says habitat loss from big agriculture and climate change are combining to threaten the world’s insects. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Climate change, big agriculture combine to threaten insects

Scientists have noticed dramatic drop in total bug numbers

A bee searches for pollen on a flower during a sunny spring day in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, April 8, 2022. A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 says habitat loss from big agriculture and climate change are combining to threaten the world’s insects. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Volunteers cut broom on a vacant land near Parksville. (Michael Briones photo)

Group wants landowners to sweep Scotch broom from their Vancouver Island properties

Broombusters ask Regional District of Nanaimo for assistance

Volunteers cut broom on a vacant land near Parksville. (Michael Briones photo)
The goal to create a protected eagle reserve at the French Creek estuary will become a reality. (Michael Briones photo)

$5M dream to create Vancouver Island eagle sanctuary poised to become reality

Campaign to purchase estuary land reaches fundraising goal

The goal to create a protected eagle reserve at the French Creek estuary will become a reality. (Michael Briones photo)
Save French Creek Estuary Land has documented eagles nesting on a Douglas Fir tree near the French Creek Marina. (SFCEL photo)

Clock ticking as charity $300,000 away from Vancouver Island eagle reserve dream

Major donations assist $5 million effort to preserve French Creek estuary

Save French Creek Estuary Land has documented eagles nesting on a Douglas Fir tree near the French Creek Marina. (SFCEL photo)
This snowy owl, popular on the Peninsula for its Sidney perch in public the last couple weeks, didn’t show itself for the annual Christmas Bird Count in Sidney/South Salt Spring Island on Dec. 19, but was spotted on Monday. (Photo by Christy Grinton)

Sidney’s snowy owl hides out during annual Christmas Bird Count

Victoria count includes rare Arctic bird sighting by Oak Bay team

This snowy owl, popular on the Peninsula for its Sidney perch in public the last couple weeks, didn’t show itself for the annual Christmas Bird Count in Sidney/South Salt Spring Island on Dec. 19, but was spotted on Monday. (Photo by Christy Grinton)
Conservation efforts in the Kings Road Community Nature Space, known by residents as Kings Park, may soon start, with the District of Saanich electing to remove the need to externally fundraise the final $625,000 for the project. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Fred Haynes/Twitter)

Saanich to begin conservation in Kings Park greenspace sooner than later

Council votes to remove final financial hurdle to getting started on preservation work

Conservation efforts in the Kings Road Community Nature Space, known by residents as Kings Park, may soon start, with the District of Saanich electing to remove the need to externally fundraise the final $625,000 for the project. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Fred Haynes/Twitter)
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary is expanding thanks to land acquisition by the District of Saanich. (Photo courtesy of the District of Saanich)

Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary expansion to further preservation of area

Another 1,089 square metres acquired on the west side of the lake

Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary is expanding thanks to land acquisition by the District of Saanich. (Photo courtesy of the District of Saanich)
Paula McCormick, youth programs coordinator, helps children in the garden on a rainy day. (Photo courtesy of Erica Van Dyk)

PHOTOS: Botanical gardens in Saanich offer space for youth to connect with nature and gardening

The Gardens at HCP offer a variety of programs for family and youth

Paula McCormick, youth programs coordinator, helps children in the garden on a rainy day. (Photo courtesy of Erica Van Dyk)
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is set to host an event on Sept. 19 that utilizes an app called iNaturalist. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary to host event, digital tools for community science

Event on Sept. 19 will allow attendees to record observations on an app called iNaturalist

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is set to host an event on Sept. 19 that utilizes an app called iNaturalist. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
The Wilson Nature Park sign was unveiled at the Englishman River Estuary on Marine Way in Parksville on Sept. 16. Pictured from left, The Nature of BC chair and CEO, respectively, Emily Griffiths-Hamilton and Jasper Lament, and founders of the Wilson 5 Foundation, Summer and Chip Wilson. (Michael Briones Photo)

Wilson 5 Foundation donates $6M to rehabilitate Vancouver Island’s Englishman River

Largest land conservancy gift made by the foundation to date will re-naturalize Parksville estuary

The Wilson Nature Park sign was unveiled at the Englishman River Estuary on Marine Way in Parksville on Sept. 16. Pictured from left, The Nature of BC chair and CEO, respectively, Emily Griffiths-Hamilton and Jasper Lament, and founders of the Wilson 5 Foundation, Summer and Chip Wilson. (Michael Briones Photo)
(Lakes District News File Photo/Eddie Huband)

VIDEO: Fraser Valley pilot spots black bear from the air

Agassiz area pilot captures footage of a wandering black bear among the stalks of corn

(Lakes District News File Photo/Eddie Huband)
This year’s Western hemlock "looper" moth outbreak has been seen in the Lower Mainland and the Interior, including communities throughout the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. (Lorraine Maclauchlan photo)

Western Hemlock Looper Moths return for a third feast of B.C. foliage

Outbreaks of the moths occur every 11 to 15 years in Coastal and Interior forests

This year’s Western hemlock "looper" moth outbreak has been seen in the Lower Mainland and the Interior, including communities throughout the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. (Lorraine Maclauchlan photo)